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Visiting the Sick In Islam

Health and illness are two alternates which every human sees in his life. Some people fell ill too much and some people fell ill with larger intervals. Islam says that when a person fells ill, his sins are removed according to the pain he suffers. Even if he suffers the pain caused to him by slight pinch, his sins will be removed. Thus even when we fell ill, we can earn sawab.


When someone fells ill, he gets weak and sensitive and in this state such a person needs attention more than in his normal life. This is why the system of morals in islam tells us that we should visit the sick. When a sick person sees his relatives and friends around him, half of his illness goes away. This is the system of brotherhood in islam that encourages us to not leave our brothers at any time.

Our beloved prophet Muhammad s.a.w.w used to visit sick people and they used to take care of them to show them that He was with them in their illness. Thus Muhammad s.a.w.w established a very beautiful sunnah for us so that muslim community remains solid and connected as well as muslims could leave a good impact on non muslims too by visitng them and being polite with them.

When one thinks about his brother in islam and shows his concern or takes time for his friend or brother, this is the liked very much by ALLAH swt. Because to take care of our brothers and to help them and to be with them in the time of need means that we are fulfilling the duty of haqooq ul ibad i.e the rights of the people. Life of Muhammad s.a.w.w is full of such encouraging events when He s.a.w.w even showed his concern about non muslims in their time of need and lonliness.  Below is given one such incident from ibn-hibban
The learned Companion, Anas b. Malik, also related the following episode from the life of God’s Final Prophet to humanity:

“A Jewish boy who would serve the Prophet fell sick, so the Prophet said: ‘Let us go and visit him.’  They (the Prophet and his illustrious Companions) went to visit him and found his father sitting by his head.  The Messenger of God said:‘Proclaim that there is no true deity worthy of being worshipped except God alone, and I will intercede on your behalf on account of it on the Day of Resurrection.’  The boy looked at his father and the father said: ‘Obey Abul-Qasim (Muhammad)!’  So the boy uttered: ‘There is no true deity worthy of being worshipped except God alone, and Muhammad is the last Messenger.’  The Messenger of God then said: ‘All praise is due to God Who saved him from the Fire of Hell.’”

From the above mentioned hadith, we see that even with non muslims, Muhammad s.a.ww showed mercy and concern. Being His ummah, we should also be open hearted for everyone because islam does not teaches us to restrict ourselves to muslims only like jews (jews do not mingle and share their knowledge and their religion with others as being proud of their glorious past).

Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.w said;
Muslim Book 026, Number 5378:
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Five are the rights of a Muslim over his brother: responding to salutation, saying Yarhamuk Allah when anybody sneezes and says al-Hamdulillah, visiting the sick. following the bier. ' Abd al-Razzaq said that this hadith has been transmitted as mursal hadith from Zuhri and he then substantiated it on the authority of Ibn Musayyib.

thus,  it is a right of our muslim brother over us that we should visit him when he falls ill. This gesture shows the mututal love and respect among the people. and f we note carefully in our society, we do not see such brotherhood and respect for others. Today, when a person dies, only his family feels the pain, others merely like to visit the family as a formality. That mutual love which was the crown attribute of muslims has now gone from us. This is why there is left no pain and no mercy in our hearts for others.

A hadith in sahi muslim narrates an incident which should serve as a best example for us to open our eyes and change ourselves;

Mulim Book 032, Number 6226:
“Abu Huraira reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: A person visited his brother in another town and Allah deputed an Angel to wait for him on his way and when he came to him he said: Where do you intend to go? He said: I intend to go to my brother in this town. He said: Have you done any favour to him (the repayment of which you intend to get)? He said: No, excepting this that I love Mm for the sake of Allah, the Exalted and Glorious. Thereupon he said: I am a meesenger to you from, Allah: (to inform you) that Allah loves you as you love him (for His sake) This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Hammid b. Salama with the same of transmitters.”

This hadith shows that ALLAH swt loves those who love others for the sake of Him i.e. who fear ALLAH show their deep and sincere concerns for others.
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