But there are times when due to many reasons and factors, one falls sick, sometimes very sick. While we seek medical assistance and medication, the recovery from the ailment we are suffering from rests in the hands of Allah. In Surah Ash-Shu'ara (26:80), it is said: “And when I am ill, it is He who heals me.” This verse speaks about the dependence on Allah for healing during illness. It reminds believers that Allah is the ultimate source of all cures and that healing is under His control.
Therefore, when we fall sick, we must supplicate to Allah for our good health and recovery from our ailment. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has taught us one such supplication to be made when visiting a sick and if the sick has not reached the brink of death, this supplication would definitely help him recovery from his ailment by the will of Allah.
This Hadith is mentioned Jami` at-Tirmidhi Book 28: Chapters on Medicine / كتاب الطب عن رسول اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم / Chapter 32: What Is Said When Visiting The Sick / as Hadith number # 2083 (Source of Supplication):
Ibn 'Abbas narrated that the Prophet (S.A.W) said:
"There is no Muslim worshiper who visits one who is ill - other than at the time of death - and he says seven times: As'alullah Al-'Azeem Rabbal 'Arshil 'Azeem an yashfik ('I ask Allah the Magnificent, Lord of the Magnificent Throne to cure you') except when he will be cured."
Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، قال حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، قال حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ أَبِي خَالِدٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الْمِنْهَالَ بْنَ عَمْرٍو، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ " مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ مُسْلِمٍ يَعُودُ مَرِيضًا لَمْ يَحْضُرْ أَجَلُهُ فَيَقُولُ سَبْعَ مَرَّاتٍ أَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ الْعَظِيمَ رَبَّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ أَنْ يَشْفِيَكَ إِلاَّ عُوفِيَ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ حَدِيثِ الْمِنْهَالِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو .
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
The hadith aligns with the Quranic principles of seeking healing from Allah, recognizing His supreme power, and relying on Him through supplication. By invoking Allah's names and titles, such as "Al-'Azeem" (the Magnificent) and "Rabbal 'Arshil 'Azeem" (Lord of the Magnificent Throne), the believer is acknowledging Allah's infinite majesty and seeking His mercy for the cure of the ill. The Quran encourages believers to turn to Allah in times of need, and this hadith provides a specific, powerful means of doing so when visiting a sick person.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ assures that if this supplication is said seven times during the visit (except in the case of death), the ill person will be cured by Allah's will. To understand the significance of this hadith in the light of the Quran, and for that matter any supplication, we should look at a few key themes:
How Supplications work
- Healing is from Allah alone: The Quran emphasizes that ultimate healing and relief from ailments come from Allah alone. For example, in Surah Ash-Shu'ara (26:80), Allah says: "And when I am ill, it is He who cures me." This verse highlights that although human doctors and treatments can play a role, the true source of healing is Allah. This aligns with the supplication in the hadith, where the believer calls upon Allah, the "Magnificent," to cure the patient.
- The Power and Majesty of Allah: The phrase "Rabbal 'Arshil 'Azeem" (Lord of the Magnificent Throne) in the supplication reflects the immense power and authority of Allah. The Quran often describes Allah as the Lord of the Throne (Ar-Rahman 11:7, Al-Mulk 67:16), indicating His supreme control over all of creation. The supplication in the hadith is invoking Allah's vast majesty, seeking His mercy and power to cure the ill person.
- Importance of Du'a (Supplication): In Islam, supplication is a powerful means of seeking help from Allah. The Quran encourages believers to make du'a with sincerity, trust, and devotion. In Surah Al-Baqarah (2:186), Allah says: "And when My servants ask you concerning Me, indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me." This verse shows that Allah is close to His believers and listens to their prayers. The hadith reinforces this by providing a specific supplication to say, which, when recited with faith, brings about Allah's intervention.
Supplications taught by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
- Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was a source of mercy and many a supplications about healing for the believers. His teachings, supplications, and actions were all ways for the ummah to seek guidance, mercy, and healing from Allah. This hadith reflects the prophetic role in teaching the Muslims how to approach Allah for healing, reminding them to place their trust in Allah’s power.
- It may be noted here that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was not a healer himself. He instead taught people supplications as taught to him by Allah so that believers could communicate their grievance directly to Allah in His own language for recovery from one's ailment.
- Visiting the sick and offering prayers for their healing is a way to show mercy and compassion toward fellow believers.
- The Quran emphasizes the importance of supporting and caring for one another, particularly in times of difficulty. In Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:2), Allah says: "...and cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression." Offering a prayer for someone who is ill is a good example of such cooperation in righteousness.
Let us never forget to turn to Allah in our difficult times, and even in good times, seeking Divine mercy for our well being and good health. This must be done with conviction and complete faith in Allah for Allah help those who trust Him and depend on Him in good and bad times.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
Please refer to our reference page: Supplications attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for more prophetic Supplications attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
Please refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet ﷺ of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
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