The Virtues Of Visiting A Sick Person In Islam

Praise be to Allaah (swt)

It is a Sunnah of our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to visit the sick. We should always visit those who are sick because it helps us to reflect and take heed, as those who are ill are close to Allah Ta'ala. We have only to consider that the sick person has no one to call but Allah, nothing to reflect on but Allah, and his condition reminds us of the blessing of health.

1. Allah is With the Sick

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "On the Day of Judgement, Allaah Ta'ala will announce: O son of Aadam, I was sick yet you did not visit me. He will reply, 'O Allaah, how could I have visited You since you are Rabbul 'aalameen (Lord of the world? Allaah Ta'ala will say: Did you not know that so and so slave of mine was sick, and yet you did not visit him? Should you have visited him you would have found Me by him. "

[Sahih Muslim]

2. A reward of a Home in Jannah

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) also said, 'Whoever visits a sick person (for the pleasure of Allah), a Caller from the skies announces: You are indeed blessed and your walking is blessed and you have (by this noble act) built yourself a home in Jannah (Paradise).'

[Sunan Ibn Maajah]

3. Make Dua For The Sick

Narrated by ‘Aishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that: “When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) came to a sick person, he would make supplication for him, and would say: Adhhibil-bas, Rabban-nas, washfi Antash-Shafi, la shifa’a illa shifa’uka shifa’an la yughadiru saqama (Take away the pain, O Lord of mankind, and grant healing, for You are the Healer, and there is no healing but Your healing that leaves no trace of sickness).’”

(Sunan Ibn Majah)

4. Seventy Thousand Angels Will Send Blessings Upon You

Narrated by ‘Ali Ibn Abu Talib (may Allaah be pleased with him) that he heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: “There is no Muslim who visits a (sick) Muslim early in the morning but seventy thousand angels send blessings upon him until evening comes, and if he visits him in the evening, seventy thousand angels send blessings upon him until morning comes, and he will have a garden in Paradise.”

(Sahih al-Tirmidhi)

i. Narrated by Abu Rabi' (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The one who visits the sick is in fact like one who is in the fruit garden of Paradise so long as he does not return.

(Sahih Muslim)

ii. Narrated by Abu Musa (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Visit the sick, feed the hungry, and (arrange for the) release of the captive.''

[Sahih Bukhari].

5. It Is A Right For A Muslim To Visit The Sick

Narrated by Abu Huraira (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (may peace and blessings be upon him) as said: Six are the rights of a Muslim over another Muslim. It was said to him: O Messenger of Allaah, what are these? Thereupon he said:

When you meet him, offer him greetings; when he invites you to a feast accept it. when he seeks your council give him, and when he sneezes and says:" All praise is due to Allaah," you say Yarhamuk Allah (may Allah show mercy to you); and when he falls ill visit him; and when he dies follow his bier.

(Sahih Muslim)