Part 56

“What made you know that it (“The Opening Chapter’) is Rugqyaa (i.e., that, when read over a sick person, it helps bring about his cure by the will of Allah)?”

The Prophet # then said,

“Take from them (i.e., take the sheep), and allot for me a share along with yourselves.’"71

"l Related by Bukhaaree (5748), Muslim (2192), Ahmad (24207), Abu Daawood (3902), Ibn Maajah (3529), and Maalik (1755).

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“Remove the severity of the sickness, O Lord of mankind, and cure, for You are Ash-Shaafee (the One Who cures). There is no cure save Your cure, a cure that leaves behind no sickness.”

Muslim related it thus: “When any person among us fell ill, the Prophet #4 would wipe over him with his right hand, after which he #% would say,

tetas ol 55 pth Sh “Remove the severity of the sickness, O Lord of mankind..."

d) Ar-Ruqyaa with, “In the name of Allah do I read invocations over you [, invoking Allah to cure you], [for protection] from everything that harms you, from the evil of every soul or from the eye of the jealous one. May Allah cure you. In the name of Allah do I read invocations over you [, invoking Allah to cure you].” Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudree 4 reported that Jibreel 4 went to the Prophet # and said, “O Muhammad, you have fallen ill?” The Prophet # said,

“Yes, Jibreel #2 then said,

cece : eae et. 4 ee GF Bel ob 5) nt SO be IB ct BS be

" Related by Bukhaaree (5675), Muslim (2191), Ahmad (24317), and Ibn Maajah (3520).

“Tn the name of Allah do I read invocations over you [, invoking Allah to cure you, [for protection] from everything that harms you, from the evil of every soul or from the eye of the jealous one. May Allah cure you. In the name of Allah do I read invocations over you [, invoking Allah to cure you].”"")

e) Ar-Ruqyaa with, “In the Name of Allah, [with] the soil of our earth and the saliva of some of us - may the ailing among us become cured by the permission of our Lord.” ‘Aaisha 4% reported that the Prophet # would say these words to a sick person:

“In the Name of Allah, [with] the soil of our earth and the saliva

of some of us - may the ailing among us become cured by the permission of our Lord.’

An-Nawawee gave this explanation of the invocation: “He would take his own saliva, place it on his index finger, then put his finger on soil. Some of the soil would cling to his finger, and he would then wipe it over the place of injury or sickness. And as he would wipe his hand over the ailing spot, he would say those words. And Allah knows best.”

Related Issue: In Muslim countries, some people now take a bouquet of flowers with them when they visit the sick; usually attached to the flower is a card, upon which they write consoling words. In their minds, the best they could do for the sick is to present flowers to them. First, we must understand that this practice is taken from Christian lands and that the Prophet # forbade us from imitating the Jews and Christians.

" Related by Muslim (2186), Ahmad (11140), At-Tirmidhee (972), and Ibn Maajah (3523).

"1 With different wordings, the following compilers related this hadith: Bukhaaree (5745), Muslim (2194), Ahmad (24096), Abu Daawood (3895), and Tbn Maajah (3521).

Chapter - 14 The Manners Of Visiting The Sick 343,

Second, the people who apply this practice forsake supplicating for mercy, purification, forgiveness, and health to befall the patient, replacing those supplications with meaningless cliches that they write on a card or that is preprinted on a card. They replace Islamically legislated invocations from the Qur’an and Sunnah with a bouquet of flowers that might wither in a day or two. O Allah, guide us to the straight path, and not to the path of those who have earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray.

14) When A Patient Is In The Final Stages Of Dying, Those Around Him Should Prompt Him To Say The Shahaadah (“I Bear Witness That None Has The Right To Be Worshipped But Allah”);

When he dies, they should close his eyes and supplicate for him. As a patient is nearing the final stages of death, it is recommended for those that are present to remind him of Allah’s vast mercy and to avoid making him feel a sense of hopelessness. Jaabir 4 said, ‘Three days before he #% died, ‘I heard the Prophet 2% say,

“Let no one among you die except that he thinks well of Allah ‘Azza Wa-Jall (the Possessor of Might and Majesty).”"11

In explaining the Prophet's saying, “’...except that he thinks well of Allah ‘Azza We-Jall,”” scholars have said, “It means to think that Allah will forgive him and have mercy on him.”] Also, ina gentle and kind manner, they should prompt the dying patient to say the Shahaadah (“None has the right to be worshipped but Allah”). Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudree # reported that the Messenger of Allah #% said,

al YIN S0y Eb ") Related by Muslim (2877), Ahmad (13711), Abu Daawood (3113), and Ibn.

“Prompt the dying ones among you to say, ‘Laa ilaha illallah (None has the right to be worshipped but Allah).’")

An-Nawawee said, ‘The order to prompt the deceased in this manner is the kind of command which indicates that the action being ordered to is recommended (and not compulsory). Scholars agree that it is disliked to prompt the dying patient continuously or too frequently; otherwise, the patient, because of the pain he is already experiencing, might begin to dislike what is being requested of him, and he even might end up saying inappropriate words. Furthermore, if the dying patient says the Shahaadah once, no one should prompt him to say it again unless he says something afterwards, in which case he should be prompted again, so that his last words are ‘Laa ilaha illallah (None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.’ Then, when he dies, it is recommended for those present to close his eyes and supplicate for him. Umm Salamah 4 said, ‘The Messenger of Allah #8 entered upon Abu Salamah #, whose eyes remained open [after having died], and the Prophet # then closed them. He #% then said,

“Verily, when the soul is taken, one follows it with his sight.’ People from his family became troubled and afraid, and so he # said,

“Do not supplicate upon yourselves (or upon the deceased)

except with goodness (with good supplications), for the angels

say, ‘Aameen (i.e., O Allah, answer this supplication)’ to what you say.”

He # then said,

"I Related by Muslim (916), Ahmad (10610), At-Tirmidhee (976), AnNassaaee (1826), Abu Daawood (3117), and Ibn Maajah (1445).

Chapter - 14 The Manners Of Visiting The Sick 345

“O Allah, forgive Abu Salamah and raise his ranking among the guided ones. Make among his progeny those who succeed him and remain. And forgive us and him, O Lord of all that exists; and make his grave spacious for him, and iliuminate it for him."

"4! Related by Muslim (920), Ahmad (26003), Abu Daawood (3118), and Ibn Maajah (1454). And the above-mentioned wording is from Muslim’s narration of the hadith.

The Manners Of Adornment And Attire

Allah 3€ said: Gor ne che ge - By bee UR ee eee ae BS sail O05 by Sie oh CO Ke OF 8 on ged

“O Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover yourselves (screen your private parts, etc.) and as an adornment, and the raiment of righteousness, that is better. Such are among the Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah, that they may remember (i.e., leave falsehood and follow truth). O Children of Adam! Let not Shaitan (Satan) deceive you, as he got your parents [Adam and Hawwa (Eve)] out of Paradise, stripping them of their raiments, to show them their private parts. Verily, he and Qaabiluhu (his soldiers from the Jinns of his tribe) see you from where you cannot see them. Verily, We made the Shayaateen (devils) Auliyaa (protectors and helpers) for those who believe not’

‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr Ibn Al-‘Aas # reported that the Messenger of Allah 2 said, “Eat and drink and give charity; and attire yourselves, but

without Israaf (extravagance and wastage) and Makheelah (pride and haughtiness).’"1)

" An-Nassaaee related it (2559), and Al-Albaanee ruled that it is Hasan

Chapter - 15 The Manners Of Adornment And Attire 347

The Manners Of Adornment And Attire

1) It ls Compulsory To Cover The Private Areas Of The Body In the following verse, Allah 3 reminds His slaves of the blessing

of physical attire; He 4 then guided them to a figurative kind of attire, one that is even better than the physical kind. Allah 3g said:

“O Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover yourselves (screen your private parts, etc.) and as an adornment, and the raiment of righteousness, that is better. Such are among the Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah, that they may remember (i.e., leave falsehood and follow truth). O Children of Adam! Let not Shaitan (Satan) deceive you, as he got your parents [Adam and Hawwa (Eve)] out of Paradise, stripping them of their raiments, to show them private parts. Verily, he and Qaabiluhu (his soldiers from the Jinns of his tribe) see you from where you cannot see them. Verily, We made the Shayaateen (devils) Auliyaa (protectors and helpers) for those who believe not’

In the Tafseer (explanation) of this verse, Ibn Katheer said, “In this verse, Allah 3 reminds his slaves of the favors of clothing and adornment. Basic clothing serves the purpose of covering ‘Auraa (private areas, which one should not allow anyone to see - with the exception of his wife). ‘Adornment’ is an added blessing over and above basic clothing; the latter is for necessity, the former is