Hadith: If you wish, be patient and you will enter Paradise; or, if you wish, I will supplicate Allah to cure you

عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رضيَ اللهُ عنهما:
أنَّهُ قَالَ لعَطَاءِ بْنِ أَبِي رَبَاحٍ: أَلَا أُرِيكَ امْرَأَةً مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ؟ قُلْتُ: بَلَى، قَالَ: هَذِهِ الْمَرْأَةُ السَّوْدَاءُ، أَتَتِ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَتْ: إِنِّي أُصْرَعُ وَإِنِّي أَتَكَشَّفُ، فَادْعُ اللهَ لِي، قَالَ: «إِنْ شِئْتِ صَبَرْتِ وَلَكِ الْجَنَّةُ، وَإِنْ شِئْتِ دَعَوْتُ اللهَ أَنْ يُعَافِيَكِ» قَالَتْ: أَصْبِرُ، قَالَتْ: فَإِنِّي أَتَكَشَّفُ فَادْعُ اللهَ أَنْ لَا أَتَكَشَّفَ، فَدَعَا لَهَا.
[صحيح] - [متفق عليه] - [صحيح مسلم: 2576]

Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported
that he said to ‘Atā’ ibn Abi Rabāh: Shall I show you a woman of the people of Paradise? ‘Atā’ said: Yes. He said: This black woman came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and said: I suffer from epilepsy and, as a result, my body becomes uncovered. So supplicate Allah for me. He said: "If you wish, be patient and you will enter Paradise; or, if you wish, I will supplicate Allah to cure you." She said: I will remain patient. She then said: But I become uncovered, so invoke Allah that I do not become uncovered. So he supplicated for her.
[Authentic hadith] - [Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim] - [Sahih Muslim - 2576]

Explanation

Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) said to ‘Atā’ ibn Abi Rabāh: Shall I show you a woman of the people of Paradise? ‘Atā’ said: Yes. He said: This black Abyssinian woman came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and said: I suffer from an illness that causes me to have seizures, and I become uncovered, revealing parts of my body without my awareness. So supplicate Allah to heal me. He (the Prophet) said: If you wish, be patient and you will enter Paradise, or, if you wish, I will supplicate Allah to cure you. She said: I will remain patient, then she said: Supplicate Allah that I do not become uncovered if I have a seizure, and he supplicated Allah for her.

Benefits from the Hadith

1. Patience in enduring worldly trials leads to Paradise.
2. An-Nawawi said: It contains evidence that one who is afflicted with epilepsy receives the most complete reward.
3. The chastity and modesty of the female Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and their keenness on covering themselves, as this woman's greatest fear was that any part of her body might be exposed.
4. Ibn Hajar said: Choosing the stricter ruling over the concession is better for one who knows about himself that he is capable and is not weakened by adhering to what is strict.
5. Ibn Hajar said: It indicates that treating all illnesses through supplication and seeking refuge in Allah is more effective and beneficial than medicinal treatments. The impact of this on the body is greater than that of physical remedies. However, its efficacy depends on two conditions: 1. From the patient's side: sincerity of intention. 2. From the healer's side: the strength of their focus and heart through piety and reliance on Allah, and Allah knows best.
6. Ibn Hajar said: It contains evidence on the permissibility of abstaining from medical treatment.