A dear friend of mine, a successful and beloved university professor, has a son who recently completed medical school, …

A dear friend of mine, a successful and beloved university professor, has a son who recently completed medical school, and this son is very diligent in his studies, in addition to his gentleness of character and goodness of religion...

This doctor son repeatedly complained to his father that the university study environment he lived in distances from Allah and students feel self-sufficient from their Creator, Glory be to Him! To the point that they find it strange to hear discourse that reminds of Allah.

Before this son's graduation from medical school, he developed asthma that sometimes constricts his breathing.

My friend (his father) said to me - and listen to what he said-: True, as a father I'm distressed when I see my son burdened by illness sometimes, but on the other hand I'm happy for him because I see in that a lesson from Allah for him: Don't be deceived by your knowledge and know that you are weak and in need of Allah, submissive to His might, Glory be to Him. And I say to my son:

"My son, your graduation from the school of patience is more important to me than your graduation from medical school. For there is no blessing in knowledge without faith."

These were great words that affected me, especially since I know how compassionate and tender-hearted my friend is and how much he loves his children...but he still knows that he's not more merciful to his son than Allah is, and knows that Allah's choice for his son is better than his choice, and knows that this illness is a blessing because it makes his son realize the station of servitude to Allah and humble himself before Him, so his knowledge will benefit him in religion and the Afterlife, by Allah's will.

Remember that, you who panic and your hearts constrict when your children fall ill...and remember that Allah is more merciful to His servants than a mother to her child.