2. When visiting the sick, do not prolong your stay, thereby causing the sick person discomfort. Rather, you should leave after a short while. [3]
It is reported that Hazrat Ibnu Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) said, “It is from the sunnah to shorten one’s visit (by the sick) and to avoid making noise.” [4]
3. Console the sick and give him encouragement and hope of his recovery. It is incorrect for the doctor or any person to inform the patient that there is no hope left for him in any given situation.
Hazrat Abu Sa’eed Khudri (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reported that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “When you visit a sick person, then give him encouragement and hope of life, for indeed giving him hope (and lifting his spirits) will not change taqdeer. However, it will be a means of bringing happiness and comfort to him.” [5]
Hazrat Ibnu Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) once visited a sick villager, and whenever he would visit the sick, he used to recite the following dua:
لَا بَأْسَ طَهُوْرٌ إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ
There is no need to worry, through this sickness, you will be cleansed and purified insha-Allah. [6]
4. When visiting the sick, recite the following dua:
لَا بَأْسَ طَهُوْرٌ إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ
There is no need to worry, insha-Allah through this sickness, you will be cleansed and purified. [7]
You may also recite the following dua seven times:
أَسْألُ اللهَ الْعَظِيْمَ رَبَّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيْمِ أَنْ يَّشْفِيَكَ
I beseech Allah Ta‘ala, the Almighty, the Rabb of the great throne, to cure you.
Hazrat Ibnu Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said that the one who recites the abovementioned dua seven times upon a sick person who is not destined to die in that sickness, Allah Ta‘ala will cure him from that sickness. [8]
5. If it will not cause any inconvenience to the sick person, then you may ask him to make dua to Allah Ta‘ala on your behalf.
Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “When visiting the sick person, (if it is possible for you to ask him to make dua on your behalf) then ask him to make dua for you, for indeed his dua is similar to the dua of the angels (due to him being cleansed of his sins).” [9]
6. The sunnah of visiting the sick is not confined to one’s relatives or friends. If one comes to know of any Muslim who is ill, and it is possible for one to go and visit him, then one should do so.
Note: It is reported that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) visited a Jewish child who was ill, and Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had invited him to Islam. The child embraced Islam and thereafter passed away. [10]
Hence, the Ulama explain that if a kaafir falls ill, then it is permissible to visit him. At the time of visiting him, one should make the intention of inviting him to Islam.[11]
It should be borne in mind that visiting a kaafir will only be permissible on condition that one is sure that one will not jeopardise one’s Deen in any way. Hence, if there is something against Islam (e.g. there is a cross in the house, there is music playing, intermingling of men and women, pictures or idols, etc.) then in all these cases, it will not be permissible for one to visit the kaafir.
[1] من عاد متوضيًا ويكون فائدة الوضوء أنه ربما يطلب المريض الدعاء منه فيدعو له، وعلى الثاني فينبغي أن يكون الوضوء مستحبًا للعيادة (فتح الودود في شرح سنن أبي داود 3/ 384)
(عن أنس بن مالك قال: قال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم -: من توضأ فأحسن الوضوء) أي: أسبغه وأتمه، أو أتى بآدابه وسننه، وفيه استحباب العيادة على وضوء شرح سنن أبي داود لابن رسلان 13/ 288)
[2] سنن أبي داود، الرقم: 3097، سكت عنه الحافظ في الفصل الثاني من هداية الرواة (2/163) وقد قال في مقدمته (1/58): وما سكت عن بيانه فهو حسن
[3] Incidents of Causing Inconvience to the Sick
It is reported that on one occasion, a group of people went to visit Hazrat Sariyy Saqti (rahimahullah) in his final illness, and prolonged their stay by him. At that time, Hazrat Sariyy Saqti (rahimahullah) was suffering from stomach pains. When they eventually intended to leave and asked Hazrat Sariyy Saqti (rahimahullah) to make dua for them, he made dua saying, “O Allah, teach them the etiquettes of visiting the sick.”
On one occasion, a person went to visit a sick person and remained by him for a long time. The sick person then said, “We have been greatly inconvenienced by the large number of people coming to visit us.” The visitor asked, “Should I get up and close the door for you so that they don’t come in?” The sick person replied, “Yes, but close it from outside (i.e. you also remain outside as you are also causing inconvenience).” (Mirqaatul Mafateeh 3/1153)
[4] مرقاة المفاتيح 3/1153
[5] سنن الترمذي، الرقم: 2087، وقال هذا حديث غريب
[6] صحيح البخاري، الرقم: 5656
“There is no need to worry, through this sickness, you will be cleansed and purified insha-Allah.” (i.e. There is absolutely no need for you to worry or fear. You are merely undergoing a cleansing process. Spiritually, you are being cleansed from your sins, and physically, your body is being cleansed from toxins. Hence, when this sickness has come to you as a mercy in disguise from the side of Allah Ta‘ala, there is no need for you to worry and grieve).
[7] صحيح البخاري، الرقم: 5656
[8] سنن أبي داود، الرقم: 3106، سنن الترمذي، الرقم: 2083، وقال: هذا حديث حسن غريب لا نعرفه إلا من حديث المنهال بن عمرو
[9] سنن ابن ماجة، الرقم: 1441، وإسناده حسن كما في مسند الفاروق لابن كثير 1/228
[10] صحيح البخاري، الرقم: 5657
[11] ولا بأس بعيادة اليهودي والنصراني وفي المجوسي اختلاف كذا في التهذيب ويجوز عيادة الذمي كذا في التبيين واختلفوا في عيادة الفاسق والأصح أنه لا بأس بها (الفتاوى الهندية 5/348)
ولا بأس بعيادة اليهود والنصارى لما روي أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عاد يهوديا فقال له قل لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله فنظر إلى أبيه فقال له أبوه أجب محمدا فأسلم ثم مات فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم الحمد لله الذي أنقذ بي نسمة من النار ولأن عيادة الجار قضاء حق الجوار وأنه مندوب إليه قال الله تبارك وتعالى والجار الجنب من غير فصل مع ما في العيادة من الدعوة إلى الإيمان رجاء الإيمان فكيف يكون مكروها (بدائع الصنائع 5/127)