The Book of Visiting the Sick

Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) has ordered us to visit the sick, to follow the funeral (of a dead believer), respond to the sneezer (i.e., by saying to him: Yarhamuk-Allah after he says: Al-hamdu lillah), to help those who vow to fulfill it, to help the oppressed, to accept the invitation extended by the inviter; and to promote greetings (i.e., saying As-Salamu Alaikum).

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Every Muslim has five rights over another Muslim (i.e., he has to perform five duties for another Muslim): to return the greetings, to visit the sick, to accompany funeral processions, to accept an invitation, to respond to the sneezer.”

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Visit the sick, feed the hungry, and (arrange for the) release of the captive.”.

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “He who visits his brother in Faith, will remain engaged in picking the fresh fruits from the garden of Jannah till he returns.”.

I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) saying, “When a Muslim visits a sick Muslim at dawn, seventy thousand angels keep on praying for him till dusk. If he visits him in the evening, seventy thousand angels keep on praying for him till the morning; and he will have (his share of) reaped fruits in Jannah.”.

A young Jewish boy who was in the service of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) fell ill. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) went to visit him. He sat down by his head and said to him, “Embrace Islam.” The little boy looked at his father who was sitting beside him.

He said: “Obey Abul-Qasim (i.e., the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam)).” So he embraced Islam and the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) stepped out saying, “Praise be to Allah Who has saved him from Hell-fire.”.

When a person complained to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) about an ailment or suffered from a sore or a wound, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would touch the ground with his forefinger and then raise it (Sufyan ibn Uyainah, the narrator, demonstrated this with his forefinger) and would recite: ‘Bismil-lahi, turbatu ardina, biriqati badina, yushfa bihi saqimuni, bi ‘idhni Rabbina’ (With the Name of Allah, the dust of our ground mixed with the saliva of some of us would cure our patient with the permission of our Rubb.’.

When the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) visited any ailing member of his family, he would touch the sick person with his right hand and would supplicate: “Allahumma Rabban-nasi, adhhibil-basa, washfi, Antash-Shafi, la shifaa illa shifauka, shifaan la yughadiru saqaman.”

I said to Thabit (May Allah had Mercy upon him) Should I not perform Ruqyah (i.e., recite supplication or Quranic Ayat and blow) over you, such supplication as was practised by the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam)? He said: “Please do so.” Anas (radiyallahu anhu) supplicated: “Allahumma Rabban-nasi, mudh-hibal-basi, ishfi Antash-Shafi, la shafiya illa Anta, shifaan la yughadiru saqaman.”

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) visited me during my illness and supplicated, “O Allah! Cure Sad. O Allah! Cure Sad. O Allah! Cure Sad.”.

I complained to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) about a pain I had in my body. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Place your hand where you feel pain and say: ‘Bismillah (With the Name of Allah)’ three times; and then repeat seven times: ‘Audhu biizzatillahi wa qudratihi min sharri ma ajidu wa ‘uhadhiru (I seek refuge with Allah and with His Power from the evil that afflicts me and that which I apprehend).’’.”

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “He who visits a sick person who is not on the point of death and supplicates seven times: Asalullahal-‘Azima Rabbal-Arshil-‘Azimi, an yashfiyaka (I beseech Allah the Great, the Rubb of the Great Throne, to heal you), Allah will certainly heal him from that sickness.’.’”

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) visited a bedouin who was sick. Whenever he visited an ailing person, he would say, “La basa, tahurun in sha Allah.”

Jibril (Gabriel) came to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and said: “O Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam)! Do you feel sick?” He (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Yes.” Jibril supplicated thus (i.e., he performed Ruqyah): “Bismillahi arqika, min kulli shayin yudhika, min sharri kulli nafsin aw ‘ayni hasidi, Allahu yashfika, bismillahi arqika.’”

When Ali (radiyallahu anhu) came out after visiting the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) during his last illness, the people asked: “How is Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), O Abul-Hasan?” He replied: “Praise be to Allah, he (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is feeling better.”.

While the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was reclining against me (during his last illness) I heard him saying: “Allahumma-ghfir li, warhamni, wa alhiqni bir Rafiqil-Ala (O Allah, forgive me, bestow Your Mercy on me and let me join with the exalted companions.”.

I saw the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) when he was at the point of death. He had a drinking bowl with water in it. He would dip his hand into the bowl, and wipe his face. Then he would supplicate, “O Allah! Help me over pangs and agony of death.”.

A woman belonging to the Juhainah tribe came to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) after having conceived from Zina. She submitted: “O Messenger of Allah! I am liable to Hadd (punishment ordained by Allah), so execute it.” The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) called her guardian and said, “Treat her well and bring her to me after delivery.”

He acted accordingly. Then the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) commanded to tie her clothes firmly around her and then stoned her to death. He (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) then offered funeral prayer for her.

I visited the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) ({ (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam)) while he was suffering. I said: “(O Messenger of Allah!) You suffer too much.” He said, “Yes, I suffer as much as two men of you.”.

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) came to visit me when I had a severe pain. I said: “I am suffering from such trouble as you are observing. I am a wealthy man and the only heir of mine is my daughter.” (Then Sad narrated the whole incident).

“Oh, my head.” (It was hurting due to pain.) Thereupon the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Rather it is I who says: ‘Oh, my headache.’” (Then Al-Qasim narrated the complete narration).

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “He whose last words are: ‘La ilaha illallah’ (There is no true god except Allah) will enter Jannah.”.

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Exhort your dying men to recite: ‘La ilaha illallah’ (There is no true god except Allah).”.

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) visited Abu Salamah (radiyallahu anhu) when his eyes were open soon after he died. He closed them (the eyes) for him and said, “When the soul is taken away, the sight follows it.” Some members of his family began to weep.

He (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Do not supplicate for yourselves anything but good, for the angels say ‘amin’ to what you say.” Then he said, “O Allah! Forgive Abu Salamah, raise his rank among those who are rightly-guided and grant him a successor from his descendants who remain behind. Grant him pardon and us, too. O Rubb of the worlds. Make his grave spacious for him and give him light in it.”.

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “When you visit a sick or a dying person, you should utter good words because the angels say ‘Amin’ at what you say.”

She added: When Abu Salamah (radiyallahu anhu) died, I came to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and said: “O Messenger of Allah, Abu Salamah has died.” He (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) directed me to supplicate thus: “Allahummaghfir li wa lahu, wa aqibni minhu ‘uqba hasanatan.’ So I supplicated as he directed, and Allah gave me a man who was better for me than Abu Salamah (i.e., the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam)). (The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) married Umm Salamah afterwards.).”

I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) saying, “When a person suffers from a calamity and utters: ‘Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun. Allahumma ujurni fi musibati, wakhluf li khairan minha (We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return. O Allah! Compensate me in my affliction, recompense my loss and give me something better in exchange for it), then Allah surely compensates him with reward and better substitute.’

Umm Salamah (radiyallahu anha) said: When Abu Salamah (radiyallahu anhu) died, I repeated the same supplication as the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) had commanded me (to do). So Allah bestowed upon me a better substitute than him (I was married to Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam)).”

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “When a man’s child dies, Allah, the Exalted, asks His angels, ‘Have you taken out the life of the child of My slave?’ and they reply in the affirmative. He (SWT) then asks, ‘Have you taken the fruit of his heart?’ and they reply in the affirmative. Thereupon He asks, ‘What did my slave say?’

They say: ‘He praised You and said: Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun (We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return).’ Allah says: ‘Build a house for my slave in Jannah and name it Baitul-Hamd (the House of Praise).’”.

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Allah, the Exalted, says: ‘I have no reward except Jannah for a believing slave of Mine who shows patience and anticipates My reward when I take away his favourite one from the inhabitants of the world.’”.

A daughter of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) sent a message to him that her son was at his last breath, and requested him to come to her. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) sent back the informer saying: “To Allah belongs what He takes and what He gives, and everything has a limited period (in this world). So ask her to endure patiently, and expect the reward of Allah.”.

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) visited Sad ibn Ubadah during his illness. He was accompanied by Abdur-Rahman ibn Auf, Sad ibn Abu Waqqas and Abdullah ibn Masud (radiyallahu anhum). The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) began to weep. When his Companions saw this, their tears also started flowing.

He (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Do you not hear, Allah does not punish for the shedding of tears or the grief of the heart, but punishes or bestows mercy for the utterances of this (and he pointed to his tongue).”.

A grandson (child of the daughter) of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was presented to him while the child was at his last breath. Tears began to flow from the eyes of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). Sad said to him: “What is this, O Messenger of Allah?” He (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “It is mercy which Allah has placed in the hearts of his salves. Allah bestows His Mercy on the merciful among His slaves.”.

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) came to his son Ibrahim (radiyallahu anhu) when he was breathing his last. The eyes of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) began shedding tears.

Abdur-Rahman ibn Auf (radiyallahu anhu) said, “O Messenger of Allah, you too weep?” He (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “O Ibn Auf! It is mercy.” Then he began to weep and said, “The eyes are shedding tears and the heart is grieved, and we will not say except what pleases our Rubb. O Ibrahim! Indeed we are grieved by your departure.”.

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “He who washes a dead body and conceals what he notices of physical defects, he will be forgiven forty times.”.

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Whoever follows the funeral procession and offers the funeral prayer for it, will get a reward equal to one Qirat, and whoever attends it till burial, will get a reward equal to two Qirat.” It was asked, “What are two Qirat?” He (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) replied, “Equal to two huge mountains.”.

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Whosoever attends the funeral of a Muslim believing and hoping for the reward from Allah and remains with it until the prayer is offered over it and the burial is completed, he will return with a reward of two Qirat; each Qirat is equivalent to Mount Uhud; and whosoever offers his prayer over it and returns before its burial, he will come back with one Qirat.”.

We (womenfolk) were prohibited from accompanying a funeral procession, but we were not compelled (not to do so).

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “If a group of Muslims numbering a hundred perform funeral prayer over a dead person, and all of them ask Allah’s forgiveness for him, their prayer for him will be accepted.”.

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “If a Muslim dies and forty people, who do not associate anything with Allah in worship, participate in the funeral prayer over him, Allah will accept their intercession for him.”.

When Malik ibn Hubairah (radiyallahu anhu) offered a funeral prayer and found a small number of participants, he would divide them into three rows and would say that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “If three rows of men offer funeral prayer over anyone, his entry into Jannah will become certain.”.

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) offered a funeral prayer and I memorized his supplication. He (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) prayed: “Allahummaghfir lahu, warhamhu, wa ‘afihi, wafu ‘anhu, wa akrim nuzulahu, wa wassi’ mudkhalahu, waghsilhu bil-mai wath-thalji wal-baradi, wa naqqihi minal-khataya, kama naqqaytath-thawbal-abyada minad-danasi, wa abdilhu daran khairan min darihi, wa ahlan khairan min ahlihi, wa zawjan khairan min zawjihi, wa adkhilhul-Jannata, wa aidh-hu min ‘adhabil- qabri, wa min ‘adhabin-nar.’’’”

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) offered a funeral prayer and said: “Allahummaghfir lihaiyina wa maiyitina, wa saghirina wa kabirina, wa dhakarina wa unthana, wa shahidina wa ghaibina. Allahumma man ahyaiytahu minna, faahyihi ‘alal-Islam, wa man tawaffaiytahu minna, fatawaffahu ‘alal-Iman. Allahumma la tahrimna ajrahu, wa la taftinna badahu (O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, our present and our absent, our young and our old, our male and our female. O Allah, whosoever of us You keep alive, keep him alive (faithful) to Islam, and whosoever of us You cause to die, let him die having Iman.

O Allah, do not deprive us of our reward (for being patient) and do not subject us to trials after his death.’.’”

I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) saying: “When you pray over the dead, make a sincere supplication for him.”.

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) supplicated in course of funeral prayer: “Allahumma Anta Rabbuha, wa Anta khalaqtaha, wa Anta hadaytaha lil-Islam, wa Anta qabadta ruhaha, wa Anta alamu bisirriha wa ‘alaniyyatiha, jinaka shufaa’a lahu.’”

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) led the funeral prayer of a Muslim man in our presence, and I heard him saying “Allahumma inna.”

While offering the funeral prayer of one of his daughters, he recited four Takbir, and after the fourth Takbir he continued standing for a time equal to an interval between two Takbir, praying for her and seeking Allah’s forgiveness for her.

Then he said: “The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) used to do so.”Another narration is: He (Abdullah) recited four Takbir and remained standing in prayer for some time till we thought that he would recite the fifth Takbir. Then he gave Salam on the right and on the left.

When he turned aside, we asked him about it. He replied: “I would add nothing to what I saw the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) doing,” or he said: “The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) used to do so.”.

I heard the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) saying, “Hurry up with the dead body (for its burial), for if it is pious, you are speeding it to goodness and if it is otherwise, you are laying an evil off your necks.”.

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “When a dead body is placed on a bier and men carry it on their shoulders, if he was a pious man, it (corpse) says: ‘Take me in haste.’ But if he was not righteous, it says to its bearers: ‘Woe to it. Where are you taking it?’ Everything except man hears its voice. Had a human being heard its voice, he would have surely fallen into swoon.”.

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “The soul of the deceased believer remains pending on account of the debt till it (the debt) is repayed.”.

When Talhah ibn al-Bara (radiyallahu anhu) fell ill, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) came to visit him and said, “Verily, I think that Talhah is about to die. So inform me when he is dead and make haste (in burying him). Indeed, it is improper for the corpse of a Muslim to be kept lying unburied among his family members.”.

We were accompanying a funeral procession in Baqi Al-Gharqad (graveyard in Al-Madinah) when the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) proceeded towards us and sat down. We sat around him. He had a small stick in his hand. He was bending down his head and scraping the ground with the stick.

He said, “There is none among you but has a place assigned for him either in the Jannah or in the Hell.” The Companions said: “O Messenger of Allah, should we not depend upon what has been written for us (and give up doing good deeds)?”

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Carry on doing good deeds. Every one will find it easy to do such deeds (as will lead him to his destined place) for which he has been created.”.

After the burial of a dead man, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would stand by the grave and say, “Ask Allah to forgive your brother and supplicate for him for steadfastness because he is being questioned (about his deeds) now.”.

“When you have buried me, keep standing near my grave till (for the time it takes to) a camel is slaughtered and its meat is distributed, so that I may feel your nearness and know what to reply to the angels sent by my Rubb.”.

A man said to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam): “My mother has died suddenly. I think that if she were able to talk (alive) she would have given in Sadaqah (charity). So, if I give Sadaqah now on her behalf, will she get the reward?” The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Yes (she will be rewarded for that).”.

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “When a man dies, his deeds come to an end, except for three: A continuous charity, knowledge by which people derive benefit, pious son who prays for him.”.

Some Companions happened to pass by a funeral procession (bier) and they praised him (the deceased). The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “He will certainly enter it.” Then they passed by another funeral procession and they spoke ill of the deceased.

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “He will certainly enter it.” Umar ibn al-Khattab (radiyallahu anhu) said: “(O Messenger of Allah,) what do you mean by ‘He will certainly enter it?’

He (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) replied, ‘You praised the first person, so he will enter Jannah; and you spoke ill of the second person, so he will enter Hell. You are Allah’s witnesses on earth.’.”

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Any Muslim who loses three children before they reach the age of maturity, will be granted Jannah by Allah, the Exalted, out of His Mercy for them.”.

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “A Muslim whose three children die (in infancy) will not be touched by the Fire (of Hell) except for the fulfillment of Allah’s Oath.”

A woman came to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and said: “O Messenger of Allah! Only men benefit from your talks, so please fix a day for us, to teach us the knowledge which Allah has taught you.” The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) fixed a day and directed them to assemble. When they gathered, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) went to them and taught them what Allah had taught him.

He (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) then said, “Any woman of you whose three children die (in infancy) they will be a guard for her against Fire (of Hell).” One of the women asked: “What if she loses two?” The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) replied, “Even two.”.

Ibn Umar (radiyallahu anhum) reported: When the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and his Companions reached Al-Hijr, the dwellings of the Thamud people, he admonished his Companions (saying), “Do not pass by these people who are being tormented, without weeping, lest the punishment should befall you as it had befallen them.”.