Bring Back A Sunnah

Bring Back A Sunnah: Visiting the Sick

If you knew the joys the sick person gets when a person comes to visit him, that would be sufficient for you. But Allah granted many rewards along with that.

- “When the Muslim visits his (sick) Muslim brother, he is harvesting the fruits of Paradise until he returns.” (Muslim)

- “Whoever visits a sick person or visits a brother in Islam, a caller cries out to him: ‘May you be happy, may your walking be blessed, and may you occupy a dignified position in Paradise’.” (Saheeh Tirmidhi) 

- “Whoever visits a sick person is plunging into mercy until he sits down, and when he sits down he is submerged in it.” (Saheeh Albani)

- “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.” (Saheeh Albani)

It is not like you are doing the sick one a favour. Rather, it is an obligation of the Muslim to visit his sick brother.

It is proven in al-Saheehaayn that the Prophet (SAW) said: “There are five duties that the Muslim owes to his brother Muslim,” one of which is visiting the sick. The Prophet (SAW) said “Feed the hungry, visit the sick and free the captives.” (Bukhari)

Furthermore, it is also worthwhile to visit a mushrik kaafir who is sick as well. The Prophet (SAW) visited a Jewish boy and called him to Islam, and he became Muslim. (Bukhari) And the Prophet (SAW) was also present when his paternal uncle Abu Taalib was dying, and he called him to Islam but he refused. Agreed upon. The purpose in that case may be to call the person to Islam, or to restrain his evil, or to soften his heart, and so on. 

The Prophet (SAW) was given as an example to mankind. He (SAW) used to visit the sick and as muslims, we should try to do the same. And we should make sure that our intention is sincere - that we are doing it for the sake of Allah and not to retrieve a favour in return from the sick one.