Is what has afflicted me, gynecomastia at the age of 11, considered patience, knowing that it will not go away except through a costly surgery or at the age of 21?

Illness expiates sins, and by it, one earns rewards, according to the majority of scholars. Everything that afflicts a Muslim—be it fatigue, sickness, worry, sorrow, harm, or grief—Allah expiates his sins through it. Scholars have differed regarding the condition of patience for the expiation of sins to occur. Some believe that mere illness expiates sins, while others hold that expiation is conditional upon patience. They also contend that the narrations which stipulate patience for expiation are weak, and those that are authentic are restricted to a specific reward.

It has been authentically reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that through illness, Allah raises a person's rank or removes a sin from him. Illness results in the removal of sin, the raising of rank, and the recording of good deeds. This is the view held by the majority of scholars. However, some Companions, such as Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah and Ibn Mas'ud, disagreed, believing that calamities only expiate sins without yielding any reward.