Part 53

"I Related by Bukhaaree (3088), Muslim (2769), and Ahmad (15345).

The Manners Of Visiting The Sick

Al-Baraa Ibn ‘Aazib 2 said, “The Prophet #8 ordered us with seven [commands] and forbade us from seven [prohibited matters]: he #2 ordered us to follow funerals (by praying the funeral prayer and then following the corpse until the burial is completed), to visit the sick, to answer (i.e., accept the invitation of) a person who invites [one to partake of a meal, for example], to help the one who is wronged, to fulfill one’s oath, to return greetings of peace, and to do Tashmeet of a person who sneezes [ie., to say, ‘Yarhamukallah (may Allah have mercy on you), when he says, ‘Alhamdulillah (All praise is for Allah),’ right after he sneezes]. And he forbade us from [using] containers (and dishes) made of silver, from [wearing] a gold ring, from [wearing] silk, from Ad-Deebaaj (a kind of silk), from Al-Qissee (a garment that is striped with silk), and from Al-Istabrak (a coarse kind of silk). (This is Bukhaaree’s narration of the hadith, and he doesn’t mention the seventh prohibited matter; Muslim did mention it in his narration: it is Al-Mayaathir, a covering made of silk that is placed over a saddle).”""!

The Manners Of Visiting The Sick

1) The Virtues Of Visiting The Sick

A number of narrations have been related concerning the virtues of visiting the sick; here we will mention some of them. Thaubaan #, the freed slave of the Messenger of Allah 2,

"] Related by Bukhaaree (1239), Muslim (2066), Ahmad (18034), AtTirmidhee (2809), and An-Nassaaee (1939).

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related that the Messenger of Allah 2 said,

“Whoever visits a sick person continues to remain in Khurfat of Paradise (‘Khurfah of Paradise’ are the fruits one picks from the date trees of Paradise; here, the Prophet ## is likening the greatness of the reward one receives for visiting a sick person to the fruits a dweller of Paradise picks from its trees) until he returns."

Jaabir Ibn ‘Abdullah # reported that he heard the Prophet 2% say, “Whoever visits a sick person wades in Ar-Rahmah (Mercy), until he sits down, when he is firmly entrenched in it (in Mercy).”"*! Abu Hurairah # reported that the Messenger of Allah # said,

“Verily, Allah ‘Azza Wa-Jall (the Possessor of Might and Majesty) will say on the Day of Resurrection, ‘O son of Adam, I became sick yet you did not visit Me.’ He will say, ‘O my Lord, how can 1 visit You, and You are the Lord of all that exists?’ He 3 will say, ‘Did you not know that such and such slave of mine became sick? But you did not visit him. Did you not know that

had you visited him, you would have found Me with him...’1

And ‘Alee 4 reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah #@ say,

"1 Related by Muslim (2568), Ahmad (21868), and At-Tirmidhee (967).

1 Related by Bukhaaree in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad (522). It is from the narrations of Maalik; Ibn ‘Abdul-Barr said, “It is a Madanee (from Madeenah) authentic hadith.” (At-Tamheed (24/273). And in As-sahih AL-Adab A}-Mufrad, Al-Albaanee ruled that it is authentic.

31 fbn ‘Abdul-Barr related it with his chain until Jaabir Ibn ‘Abdullah 4. (AtTamheed 24/273).

“Whoever goes to visit his [sick] Muslim brother is walking in the Khuraafah (a road which lies between two rows of date trees) of Paradise, until he sits down [near his sick brother]. Then, when he sits down, Ar-Rahmah (Mercy) overspreads him. If it is the morning [that he visits him], then 70,000 angels pray over him until the night arrives; and if it is in the night, then 70,000 angels pray over him until the morning arrives."

After one hears or reads these Ahadeeth, which mention the great virtues of visiting the sick, one should not be derelict in his brotherly duties. Instead, whenever he finds out that one of his Muslim brothers is sick, he should hurry to him, and thus achieve the Mercy of the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. There are other merits to visiting the sick which we have not mentioned - the sick person feeling consoled upon seeing the concern of his brother, the sick person being able to ask his brother for help if he needs it, and the visitor learning a lesson about the transient nature of this life.)

2) Visiting Sick Children

Upon visiting a sick child, one serves the same purpose and does the same actions as when he visits a sick man: he supplicates for the sick child, consoles him, and reads Islamically legislated invocations over him; he also receives the rewards that one reaps for visiting a sick adult (as are detailed in the above-mentioned narrations).

Usaamah Ibn Zaid #% said, “A daughter of the Prophet # sent a message to him - meanwhile, he (Usaamah), Sa’ad, and Ubai &

( Related by Muslim (2569) and Ahmad (8989), and the above-mentioned wording is from Muslim’s narration of the hadith. "1 Tbn Al-Jawzee mentioned these merits in Kashf Al-Mushkil.

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-were with the Prophet #. [This was the message:] ‘We think that my daughter is in the final stages of dying, so come to us.’ The Prophet # sent greetings of peace to her, saying: ‘Verily, to Allah belongs what He takes and what He gives, and everything [is decreed] with Him for an appointed [time]. So seek your reward from Him and be patient.’ She then sent another message, taking an oath upon him [that he should go to her]. Next, the Prophet 2% stood, and so we stood [to go to the dying child]. Then the child was raised [and placed] in the lap of the Prophet #%, and his (the baby’s) soul was shaking and was making a trembling sound (indicating that he was about to die). The Prophet's eyes swelled with tears, and [upon seeing that,] Sa‘ad said, ‘What is this, O Messenger of Allah?’ He #% said,

“This is mercy, which Allah has placed in the hearts of

whomsoever He 36 pleases from His slaves. And Allah does not

have mercy on anyone from His slaves except for the merciful men)

3) Women Visiting Sick Men

Itis permissible for women to visit sick men, even if the men they are visiting are strangers (by strangers, we mean men that are not male relatives that she is allowed to be in seclusion with) to them; however, there are conditions: all parties must be safe from Fitnah (trial and temptation), the woman should be properly veiled, and they must not be alone together. If these conditions are fulfilled, then it is permissible for a woman to visit a sick man and vice versa. ‘Aaisah % said (her father, Abu Bakr #, related the same), ‘When the Messenger of Allah arrived at AlMadeenah, both Abu Bakr and Bilal 4 became ill with a strong fever. I entered upon both of them and said, ‘O my father,

8] Related by Bukhaaree (5655), Muslim (923), Ahmad (21269), An-Nassaaee (1868), and Abu Daawood (3125).

how do you find yourself? And O Bilal, how do you find yourself? ...”” And in the narration found with Ahmad, ‘Urwah # said, “When the Prophet # arrived at Al-Madeenah, his Companions # fell ill, and each of the following fell ill: Abu Bakr <, ‘Aamir Ibn Fuhairah - the freed slave of Abu Bakr - and Bila} #. ‘Aaisha % sought permission from the Prophet 2% to visit them, and he #% gave her his permission. [When she entered upon them,] she %% said to Abu Bakr 4, ‘How do you find yourself? ...”")_ Ibn Shihaab related that Abu Umaamah Ibn Sahl Ibn Haneef # informed him of the following: “A poor woman became sick, and the Messenger of Allah # was informed about her sickness. And the Messenger of Allah 2 would visit the poor and ask after them (i.e., ask how they were doing and whether they needed any help).”"7)_ Ibn ‘Abdul-Barr said, “This hadith indicates that it is permissible [for men] to visit women, even if those men are not her Mahrams. But this tuling, in my view, is limited to when the [sick] woman is very aged. If she is not, then no (i.e., men must not visit her), unless they ask how she is doing without looking at her.”81

4) Visiting A Person Who fs Unconscious

Some people refuse to visit a sick person who is unaware of his surroundings, such as a person who is unconscious for a long period of time or a person who is in a coma. They argue that an unconscious person does not sense those around him; hence there is no real need or benefit of visiting him. They are wrong;

"] Related by Bukhaaree (5654), and he put it under the chapter heading: “Women Visiting Men.” Umm Ad-Dardaa & once visited a man of the Masjid from the Ansaar. Muslim also related the hadith (1376), without the mention of ‘Aaisha’s visit. Both Ahmad (23839) and Maalik (1648) related it as well.

"1 Maalik related it in Al-Muwattah (531), and Ibn ‘Abdul-Barr said, “It is not disagreed about over Maalik in Al-Muwattah regarding this hadith being Mursal. And this hadith is with a chain; it is connected, and it is authentic, other than the [narration of this] hadith of Maalik At-Tamheed

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no proof from the Shariah supports their claim; in fact, there is an authentic proof that disproves their claim. Jaabir Ibn ‘Abdullah 4s said, “I fell ill with a sickness, and the Prophet 2 and Abu Bakr visited me. They both came walking, and they found me to be in a state of unconsciousness. The Prophet 2% then performed ablution, after which he poured the water he used for his ablution over me. I then came to and found the Prophet #% before me. I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what should I do with my wealth? How should I rule concerning my wealth (ie., to whom should I leave it to)?” He gave me no answer until the verse of inheritance was revealed,’"")

Ibn Hajr said, “The legislation of visiting a sick person does not hinge upon that sick person being conscious of his visitor's presence. When a visitor comes, there are other benefits: the sick person’s family becomes consoled; blessings are hoped for from the supplications of the visitor; the visitor places his hand on the sick person and wipes it over his body, after having blown on his hand and read verses through which refuge in Allah is sought; and so on.)

" Related by Bukhaaree (5651), Muslim (1616), Ahmad (13886), AtTirmidhee (2097), An-Nassaaee (138), Abu Daawood (2886), Ibn Maajah (2728), and Ad-Daarimee (733).