Visiting the Sick: Worship, Mercy, and a Path to Paradise

n the religion of monotheism and mercy, and in a society where harmony and affection prevail, a person is not left alone in his illness. Rather, Islamic law surrounds him with care and attention, making visiting the sick a noble characteristic, a confirmed Sunnah, and even a gateway to great reward. Visiting the sick is not just a passing visit, but rather an act of the heart, in which there is consolation, mercy, and communication. It contains virtue that makes it an act of worship by which the servant draws closer to his Lord, and strengthens his relationship with his fellow human being, his community, and his Lord, the Most High. The status of visiting the sick in Islam. Islam has made visiting the sick one of the six rights that a Muslim must fulfill towards his Muslim brother, as in the hadith of the Prophet , may God bless him and grant him peace: A Muslim has six rights over another Muslim: If you meet him, greet him… If he is sick, visit him… etc. (Narrated by Muslim). In another hadith, the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: “ Five rights of one Muslim over another: returning greetings, accepting invitations , visiting the sick, attending funerals, and saying ‘may Allah have mercy on you’ to one who sneezes .” ( Bukhari and Muslim) Visiting a sick person is not just a visit, but a connection and compassion, checking on your brother’s condition, reminding him of patience and hope, praying for his recovery, and alleviating his psychological and physical pain. The virtue of visiting the sick: 1. In the company of God. The Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, said, as he narrated from his Lord: “O son of Adam, I fell ill and you did not visit Me… Did you not know that My servant so-and-so fell ill and you did not visit him? Had you visited him, you would have found Me with him?” (Muslim). Imagine visiting a sick person; your visit is as if you visited your Lord! It is the greatness of divine mercy that gently connects hearts and rewards small deeds with unimaginable reward. 2. The angels pray for him: The Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: “There is no one who visits a sick person except that seventy thousand angels pray for him until the evening. And if he visits him in the morning, seventy thousand angels pray for him until the evening, and he will have an autumn (fruit) inParadise.” (At-Tirmidhi, who authenticated it.) 3. He was overwhelmed with mercy: The Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: “Whoever visits a sick person will be bathed in mercy, and when he sits with him, it will overwhelm him.” (Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad) 4. Walking in the gardens of Paradise: The Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: “Whoever visits a sick person will remain in the gardens of Paradise until he returns.” (Muslim). In another narration: “God will say to him: ‘You are well, may your walk be pleasant, and you have found a home in Paradise.’” Etiquette of Visiting the Sick: Visiting the sick is an art and etiquette, a Sunnah and guidance. Among the most important etiquettes are: 1. Choosing the right time : Do not visit the sick when they are resting, sleeping, or receiving treatment. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would not visit a sick person until three days later. (Ibn Majah) 2. Short Sitting: Al-Ghazali, may God have mercy on him, said in explaining the rights of one Muslim over another: To visit their sick…and the etiquette of the visitor is to sit briefly. Do not burden the sick person with too much talk or questions. The sick person needs rest, not narration and distraction. Ibn Al-Sayrafi Al-Harrani mentioned in his anecdotes the saying of some poets: Do not be annoying to a sick person by asking him questions, for the visit is only one day or two. Rather, ask him about his condition, pray to God for him , and sit for the time between two milkings. Whoever visits a friend in the dark, his friendship will last , and that is good for the two friends.   3. Supplicating for him: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would say when visiting a sick person: “Remove the affliction, O Lord of mankind. Heal for You are the Healer. There is no healing except Your healing, a healing that leaves no illness behind.” (Ahmad and An-Nasa’i). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: “Whoever visits a sick person whose time of death has not yet come and says: ‘I ask Allah, the Almighty, Lord of the Mighty Throne, to heal you’ seven times, will be cured.” (At-Tirmidhi). In the hadith of Abdullah ibn Amr (may Allah be pleased with them both), when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) visited a man, he would say: “O Allah, heal Your servant so that he may defeat an enemy for You or walk for You to prayer.” (Abu Dawud). 4. Increasing hope in his heart: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When you visit a sick person, give him hope regarding his time of death, for that does not prevent anything and it makes him feel better.” (At-Tirmidhi). The Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace , visited a young man who was on his deathbed and asked him, “How are you?” He replied, “I have hope in God and I fear my sins.” The Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, said, “These two things do not come together in the heart of a servant in a state like this except that God gives him what he hopes for and keeps him safe from what he fears.” (At-Tirmidhi) 5. Remind him of the reward of patience : The Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: “No fatigue, illness, anxiety, or distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that God expiates some of his sins because of it.” (Bukhari and Muslim) 6. Do not be pessimistic or convey bad news: Do not remind him of someone who died from a similar illness, and do not compare his condition to other frustrating situations. Rather , guide him towards hope and contentment, and remind him of God’s promise to the patient in the Qur’an: “ Andgive good tidings to the patient…” Glimpses of the Prophet’s guidance, may God bless him and grant him peace: The Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, was keen to visit the sick and console them, and his visits were a mixture of mercy, kindness, and supplication. He visited a Jewish boy until he converted to Islam and said: “Praise be to Allah who saved him fromthe Fire.” (Bukhari). Saad ibn Ubadah visited him, placed his hand on his forehead, wiped his face and supplicated for him. He visited Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) and sprinkled some of his ablution water on him and he was healed. A Visit on the Path to Paradise: Visiting the sick is not just a visit; it is a school of faith , a station on the path to Paradise, and a wide gateway to reward and forgiveness. It invites mercy, reminds us of the afterlife, and purifies our hearts. One of the early Muslims said: “Whoever is unable to console the sick, let him pray for them, for prayer is the most eloquent form of consolation.” Let us strive to perform this noble act of worship, raise our children in this manner, and cultivate compassion in our communities through it. 0 00sharing