Visiting a sick person is something religiously encouraged. It is one of the Muslims’ rights upon each other. In Mishkat al-Masabih, Abu Huraira reported: Allah’s Messenger said, “A Muslim has five duties towards another Muslim: to return a salutation, visit the sick, follow funerals, accept an invitation and say, ‘God have mercy on you’ when one sneezes.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)
Visiting a sick person is a sunnah.
In Sahih al-Bukhari, narrated Al-Bara bin Azib:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) ordered us to do seven things and forbade us to do seven other things. He forbade us to wear gold rings, silk, Dibaj, Istabriq, Qissy, and Maithara; and ordered us to accompany funeral processions, visit the sick and greet everybody.
In Sahih al-Bukhari,narrated Abu Muisa Al-Ash`ari:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Feed the hungry, visit the sick, and set free the captives.”
In Sahih al-Bukhari,narrated Sa`d:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) came to visit me during my ailment which had been aggravated during Hajjat-al- Wada`. I said to him, “You see how sick I am. I have much property but have no heir except my only daughter. May I give two-thirds of my property in charity?”! He said, “No.” I said, “Half of it?” He said, “No.” I said, “One third?” He said, “One third is too much, for to leave your heirs rich is better than to leave them poor, begging of others. Nothing you spend seeking Allah’s pleasure but you shall get a reward for it, even for what you put in the mouth of your wife.”
The rewards of visiting a sick person:
Getting a lot of rewards like a person gathering the fruits of paradise till he returns:
In Mishkat al-Masabih, Thauban reported: Allah’s Messenger said:
“When a Muslim pays a sick visit to his Muslim brother he continues to gather the fruits of paradise till he returns.”
Seventy thousand angels keep on praying for him till dusk or morning.
In Riyad as-Salihin, Ali bin Abu Talib (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying, “When a Muslim visits a sick Muslim at dawn, seventy thousand angels keep on praying for him till dusk. If he visits him in the evening, seventy thousand angels keep on praying for him till the morning, and he will have (his share of) reaped fruits in Jannah.”
Obtaining the pleasure of Allah T’ala:
In Riyad as-Salihin, Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “A man set out to visit a brother (in Faith) in another town, and Allah sent an angel on his way. When the man met the angel, the latter asked him, “Where do you intend to go?” He said, “I intend to visit my brother in this town.” The angel said, “Have you done any favor to him?” He said, “No, I have no desire except to visit him because I love him for the sake of Allah, the Exalted, and Glorious.” Thereupon the angel said, “I am a messenger to you from Allah (to inform you) that Allah loves you as you love him (for His sake)”
Visiting a sick person is a reason for entering paradise.
In Sahih Muslim, Abu Huraira reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said:
Who amongst you is fasting today? Abu Bakr said: I am. He (again) said: Who amongst you followed a funeral procession today? Abu Bakr said: I did. He (the Prophet) again said: Who amongst you served food to the needy? Abu Bakr said: I did. He (again) said: Who amongst you has today visited the sick? Abu Bakr said: I did. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: Anyone in whom (these good deeds) are combined will certainly enter paradise.
Duas when visiting a sick person:
It is a sunnah to make dua for the sick person when visiting. In Mishkat al-Masabih, Umm Salama reported: Allah’s Messenger as saying, “When you are with one who is ill or dying, speak good words, for the angels say Amen to what you say.”
There are different forms of duas that the Prophet (PBUH) used to say on visiting a sick person.
In Riyad as-Salihin, Ibn ‘Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “He who visits a sick person who is not on the point of death and supplicates seven times: As’alullahal-‘Azima Rabbal-‘Arshil-‘Azimi, an yashfiyaka (I beseech Allah the Great, the Rubb of the Great Throne, to heal you), Allah will certainly heal him from that sickness.”
In Riyad as-Salihin, Ibn ‘Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
The Prophet (ﷺ) visited a bedouin who was sick. Whenever he visited an ailing person, he would say, “La ba’sa, tahurun in sha’ Allah [No harm, (it will be a) purification (from sins), if Allah wills].”
In Riyad as-Salihin, ‘Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
When the Prophet (ﷺ) visited any ailing member of his family, he would touch the sick person with his right hand and would supplicate: “Allahumma Rabban-nasi, adhhibil-ba’sa, washfi, Antash-Shafi, la shifa’a illa shifa’uka, shifaan la yughadiru saqaman [O Allah! The Rabb of humankind! Remove this disease and cure (him or her)! You are the Great Curer. There is no cure but through You, which leaves behind no disease].”
In Riyad as-Salihin, Anas said to Thabit:
Should I not use the spell of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) for you? He said: Yes. He then said: O Allah, Lord of men, Remover of the harm, heal, You are the healer. There is no healer but You; given him a remedy which leaves no disease behind.
Visiting the non-Muslims for illness:
In Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, Anas reported that a Jewish boy used to serve the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. The boy became ill and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, went to visit him. He sat by his head and said, “Become a Muslim.” The boy looked at his father who was also sitting by his head. His father said to him, “Obey Abu’l-Qasim (may Allah bless him and grant him peace).” So the boy became a Muslim. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, left saying, “Praise be to Allah who has saved him from the Fire!”
Why should a sick person be patient?
Sickness is an expiation for sins.
In Sahih al-Bukhari, narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri and Abu Huraira:
The Prophet (ﷺ) 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 Allah expiates some of his sins for that.”
In Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, Abu Hurayra reported :
the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Affliction will continue to trouble the believers, men, and women, in their bodies, their families, and their property until they meet Allah Almighty purified of every wrong action.”
A patient is credited with the deeds that he used to do when healthy.
In Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, Abdullah bin Amr narrated:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “When a person falls ill then the reward of those deeds is also recorded for him which he used to perform when he was healthy.”
In Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, Anas bin Maalik reported:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “When Allah involves a Muslim in bodily [pain then he is credited with a reward for those deeds which he was used to doing when he was healthy as long as he is ill. Thus, if Allah gives him healing, He washes him (clean of sins). But, if he causes him to die, then he forgives him.”
Most prone to trials are Prophets, then the most pious, and then the less pious.
In Sahih al-Bukhari, narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “If Allah wants to do good to somebody, He afflicts him with trials.”
In Sahih al-Bukhari, narrated `Abdullah:
I visited Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) while he was suffering from a high fever. I said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! You have a high fever.” He said, “Yes, I have as much fever as two men of you.” I said, “Is it because you will have a double reward?” He said, “Yes, it is so. No Muslim is afflicted with any harm, even if it were the prick of a thorn, but that Allah expiates his sins because of that, as a tree sheds its leaves.”
When a sick person feels pain:
When feeling some pain in the body, put your hand on the place where you feel pain and say: (Bismillāh) three times.
Then say seven times: “‘A’udhu bi’izzatillahi wa qudratihi min sharri ma ajidu wa ‘uhadhiru.”
I seek refuge in Allah and in His Power from the evil of what I find and of what I guard against.
In Riyad as-Salihin, Abu ‘Abdullah bin Abul-‘as reported:
I complained to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about a pain I had in my body. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Place your hand where you feel pain and say: ‘Bismillah (With the Name of Allah)’ three times; and then repeat seven times: ‘A’udhu bi’izzatillahi wa qudratihi min sharri ma ajidu wa ‘uhadhiru (I seek refuge with Allah and with His Power from the evil that afflicts me and that which I apprehend).”‘
Do not revile Sickness.
In Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, Jabir said:
“The Prophet (PBUH), visited Umm as-Sa’ib while she was sighing. He asked, ‘What is wrong with you?’ ‘The fever,’ she replied, “May Allah debase it!’ The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘Gently! Do not curse it. It removes the errors of the believer as the bellows remove the dross of iron.'”
Some etiquettes of visiting a sick person:
1- Choosing a proper time for the visit.
2- Not sitting for a long time with the sick person.
3- Lowering the gaze (while in his house).
4- Not asking the sick person a lot of questions.
5- Showing concern about the sick person.
6- Sincerely supplicating for the complete recovery of the sick person.
7- Reminding him of some of his good deeds and to speak good words to him.
In Sahih al-Bukhari, narrated Al-Miswar bin Makhrama:
When `Umar was stabbed, he showed signs of agony. Ibn `Abbas, as if intending to encourage `Umar, said to him, “O Chief of the believers! Never mind what has happened to you, for you have been in the company of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) and you kept good relations with him and you parted with him while he was pleased with you. Then you were in the company of Abu Bakr and kept good relations with him and you parted with him (i.e. he died) while he was pleased with you. Then you were in the company of the Muslims, and you kept good relations with them, and if you leave them, you will leave them while they are pleased with you.”
8- Encouraging him to be patient as there is a great reward in being patient.
9- Warning him against being dissatisfied or disgruntled, as one is sinful if he feels as such.
Conclusion:
visiting a sick person is a great act of worship that brings us closer to Allah the Almighty. Islam urged Muslims to be like one body, so that, if any part of the body is not well then the whole body shares the sleeplessness (insomnia) and fever with it.”
In Al-Bukhari and Muslim, Nu’man bin Bashir (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When one of the limbs suffers, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever”.
