Continuing to receive benefits for illness after recovery
6-4-2017 | IslamWeb
Question:
Assalaamu alaykum. I have recieved some benefits (income) from the goverment due to a couple of illnesses: not being able to go out alone; anxiety; and being excessive in ablution, purity, and prayer. I have also received these benefits for finacial help with my needs as I am 16 and am not physically and mentally able to work at the moment. The thing is, they gave me these benefits for the above-named illnesses, but the excessive Waswaas (devilish whisperings) that I had is now pretty much gone, praise be to Allaah, so my question is: am I allowed to continue to receive these benefits? They are given to me as aid, as I would be working without a doubt if I was able to do so, but if I let them know that my Waswaas is gone, then they will withhold them. My dad and doctor say that once I am able to go out on my own, we will phone them and let them know that I am cured and no longer I need this aid. So what should I do? Do I continue to accept this income, or does this constitute lying because the goverment still thinks that I suffer from Waswaas although that is no longer the case? The question is much more detailed, but I tried to simplify it as much as possible. I hope to try and ask a scholar in my country in order to get a full answer. May Allaah reward you.
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
May Allah reward you for your keenness on doing what is lawful and avoiding what is unlawful, and we ask Allah to bless you with recovery and well-being.
As for your question, the ruling in this regard is determined according to the entitlement conditions for receiving the benefits and whether these conditions include that you inform them (the government officials) of your recovery or that the doctor be the one to inform them of it and give you a document stating that you have recovered. It seems that the doctor is the one who knows best whether you have recovered or not, and his assessment is what matters in this regard, and he told you that you have not yet fully recovered. Hence, you are not required to inform the government that you have attained full recovery unless the doctor tells you so.
Accordingly, there is no harm on you in receiving the benefits as long as you have not recovered in a way that enables you to go out on your own and work to earn a living, as the doctor told you.
Allah knows best.