Visiting the Sick (Sunnah Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)

A man is prone to ailments and diseases, many of which are due to one's own negligence while some befall due to some epidemic or otherwise due to seasonal changes. No matter whatever the cause, the sickness is worrisome, specially when it gets aggravated. However, we must have faith that these ailment come as a test and we must remain steadfast no matter how hard hit we may be. Remember the anecdote of Prophet Ayyub (Job, AS) who fell ill so badly that wounds and blisters spread all over his body. Yet he remained steadfast and did not complain for he knew he was being tested. And surely these ailments are means of purification, and bringing a servant of God closer to Him.

While the dear and near ones take care of the ailing person, it is incumbent upon relatives and friends to visit the patient to lift up his spirits and invigorate his energies. It has been sunnah of  Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to visit whosever fell sick in the community and make special supplication for his early recovery.

It has been narrated by Ibn `Abbas that:

حَدَّثَنَا مُعَلَّى بْنُ أَسَدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ مُخْتَارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم دَخَلَ عَلَى أَعْرَابِيٍّ ـ يَعُودُهُ ـ قَالَ وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا دَخَلَ عَلَى مَرِيضٍ يَعُودُهُ قَالَ لاَ بَأْسَ طَهُورٌ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ‏.‏ فَقَالَ لَهُ ‏"‏ لاَ بَأْسَ طَهُورٌ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ قُلْتَ طَهُورٌ كَلاَّ بَلْ هِيَ حُمَّى تَفُورُ ـ أَوْ تَثُورُ ـ عَلَى شَيْخٍ كَبِيرٍ، تُزِيرُهُ الْقُبُورَ‏.‏ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ فَنَعَمْ إِذًا ‏"‏‏.‏

The Prophet (ﷺ) paid a visit to a sick Bedouin. The Prophet (ﷺ) when visiting a patient used to say, "No harm will befall you! May Allah cure you! May Allah cure you!" So the Prophet (ﷺ) said to the Bedouin. "Do not worry, it will be purification (for you) [that is No harm will befall you.] Allah willing!" The Bedouin said, "You say, may Allah cure me? No, for it is a fever which boils in (the body of) an old man, and will lead him to the grave." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Yes, then may it be as you say."

We too should follow this Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and whenever we visit a patient, we must console him and reassure him that No harm will befall you. May Allah cure you!

Reference: Sahi Al Bukhari: 61st Book on Virtues and Merits of the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions (كتاب المناقب), 25th Chapter: The signs of Prophethood in Islam (باب عَلاَمَاتِ النُّبُوَّةِ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ), Hadith 3616

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 life 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 to make 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: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If any one differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

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