I am 38 years old. I did some wrong in my life, which was doing evil things to my body (masturbation) while I was adolescent. 10 years ago I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and I have severe disability. I am in wheelchair, having tremors and difficulties with speech. I would like to know what does religion say about the relation between the above mentioned and what should I do to get of out of this disability condition and to please Allaah.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

We have already clarified in Fatwa 81150 that masturbation is forbidden and mentioned its medical harms, so please refer to it.

Now you are obliged to repent to Allaah, and we discussed the conditions of repentance in Fataawa 87903 and 89337, so please refer to them.

As regards the diseases which you are afflicted with, you should know that the afflictions which befall a person could be because of his sins and negligence towards his religious obligations. Allaah Says (what means): {And whatever strikes you of disaster, it is for what your hands have earned; but He pardons much.}[Quran 42:30]. So the calamities which befall a person wipe out his sins and remind him to return to his Lord. The Prophet said: "No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allaah expiates some of his previous sins for that." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] The affliction could also be for the purpose of raising the person's status. The Prophet said: "If Allaah wants to grant a person with a status that he could not reach with his actions, He would afflict him in his body, wealth and children, and then He would enable him to be patient until he reaches the status He wanted to grant him with.'' [Ahmad and Abu Daawood]  Sa'd asked the Prophet : "Who are the people who are afflicted the most? He replied: "Those who face the toughest trials and hardships are the Prophets, then those who are nearest to them (i.e. in terms of faith); a person is tested according to the strength of his faith. If his faith is strong, he is greatly afflicted, but if his faith is weak. A person continues to be afflicted according to the level of his faith until he/she meets Allaah without a sin.” [Ahmad and At-Tirmithi] The Prophet further said: "When Allaah wants good for a person, he afflicts him with difficulties and hardship." [Al-Bukhari and Maalik]

Finally, it should be noted that supplicating is one of the best means for removing afflictions. The Prophet said: “Decree can only be overruled by supplications and it is only by keeping ties with kinship that one could have his life extended.'' [At-Tirmithi] Therefore, invoke Allaah earnestly, return to Him and supplicate Him, as He is the One Who answers the call of the distressed person when he supplicates Him, and it is He Who removes the harm.

You should know that a person who repents from sin is like a person who has never sinned, so we give you glad tiding since you repented to Allaah.

May Allaah cure you promptly.      

Allaah Knows best.