In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Rulings of Visiting the Sick (2) (In the Light of Hadith)

Virtue of Visiting the Sick

“Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Whoever goes to visit a sick person or to meet his Muslim brother, an angel calls out: You are blessed, your walking is blessed, and you have secured for yourself a dwelling in Jannah.’” (Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi)

“Sayyiduna Thawban رضي الله عنه, the freed slave of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Whoever visits a sick person remains in the khurfah of Jannah.’ It was asked: O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, what is the khurfah of Jannah? He replied: ‘Its plucked fruits.’” (Sahih Muslim)

When Should One Visit the Sick

“Sayyiduna Anas رضي الله عنه said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would visit the sick after three days.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)

Requesting Supplication from the Sick

“Sayyiduna ‘Umar رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘When you visit a sick person, ask him to supplicate for you, for his supplication is like the supplication of the angels.’” (Sunan Ibn Majah)

Consoling the Sick

“Sayyiduna Abu Sa‘id رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘When you visit a sick person, comfort him and relieve his grief; this reassurance does not avert the Divine decree, but it certainly brings joy to the heart of the patient.’” (Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi)

Supplication During Visiting the Sick

“Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Abbas رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘When a Muslim visits a sick person and recites seven times:’

اَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ الْعَظِيمَ رَبَّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ أَنْ يَّشْفِيَكَ

‘I ask Allah, the Magnificent, Lord of the Magnificent Throne, to grant you cure,’

‘he will certainly be cured—unless his appointed time of death has arrived.’” (Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi)

Do Not Have a Negative Assumption About Allah During Illness

“Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Abbas رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went to visit a Bedouin. It was his noble practice that whenever he visited a sick person, he would say:

لَا بَأْسَ طَهُورٌ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ

‘Do not worry; it is a purification, if Allah wills.’

He said this to the Bedouin as well. The Bedouin replied: ‘Not at all; rather, this is a fever boiling over an old man that will take him to the grave.’ The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Then so it shall be.’” (Sahih al-Bukhari)