Vitiligo in the Quran and Sunnah

8-3-2009 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalamualaikum Wr.Wb ...
Is vitiligo disease a punishment in islam? is there a story in alquran
about the disease? where is it in quran? is there a story in hadits
regarding the disease? thank you for helping me find the answer of this

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Answer:

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.

 

In general, the disease –whether it is the one which you mentioned in the question or any other disease –affects the person with the permission of Allaah for a particular wisdom. It might be for raising his degrees or wiping out his sins. It might also be a punishment in this world which will decrease for him the punishment in the Hereafter, and the wisdom could be otherwise, as clarified in Fatwa 83577.

As regards the disease which you mentioned in the question, if you mean the white patches on the skin (on various parts of the body), then this is mentioned in the Quran when stating the miracles of ‘Eesa that he cures the born blind and the patient with Baras (vitiligo), as in Quran 3, verse 49, and Quran 5, verse 110.

As regards the Sunnah, it is reported in the authentic Hadeeth that the Prophet used to supplicate saying: "O Allaah, I seek refuge in You from vitiligo, madness, leprosy, and evil diseases". [Abu Daawood] For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 82432 and 86160.

It is also confirmed that Uways Al-Qarni –who is one of the followers of the companions – had been inflicted with Baras (vitiligo) and he was cured from it. Moreover, it is reported in very weak Prophetic narrations that having a Ghusl with water heated by the sun, and cutting nails on Wednesday and doing Hijaamah (cupping) on Wednesday cause Baras (vitiligo).

Allaah Knows best.