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TAG: Sick

Sayings Of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

Seeking knowledge
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: The Messenger of Allah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa salam said: “Whosoever treads a path seeking knowledge on it, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise” [Muslim: 6853]

Seeking permission to enter three times
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Musa al-Ash’ari (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa salam said: “Seeking permission is three times. If you are given permission, then you can; otherwise, return.” [Agreed upon: 6245 – 5633]

Putting a chewed sweet morsel, like dates, in the mouth of the newborn (Tahneek)
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Musa al-Ash’ari (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: A boy was born to me, and I took him to the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa salam. He named him Ibrahim and did tahneek on him with a date and prayed for his blessing.[Agreed upon: 5467 – 5615]

Ruling On Visiting The Sick

Sometimes, someone we know falls ill. So it is important to know the rulings and etiquette of visiting the sick from an Islamic point of view.

Visiting the sick is a fard kifaayah or a communal obligation. (i.e. when someone in the community falls sick, some of the Muslims must go and visit him. Otherwise, the whole community will be sinful. (AL-Ikhtiyaaraat by Ibn Taymiyyah)

This is based on the order of the Prophet (pbuh) : “Feed the hungry, visit the sick, and free the captives.” (Bukhaari)

The rewards for visiting the sick
The Messenger of Allaah (pbuh) said:
1) “When the Muslim visits his (sick) Muslim brother, he is harvesting the fruits of Paradise until he returns.” (Muslim)

2) “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.” (Tirmidhi- hasan by al-Albaani)

3) “Whoever visits a sick person is plunging into mercy until he sits down, and when he sits down he is submerged in it.” (Ahmad– Saheeh by al-Albaani)

4) “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 al-Tirmidhi. )

Who to visit
Visit those whom you know, as well as those whom you do not know. (Muslim).

The scholars say that you may visit non-mahrams as long as there is proper covering, no risk of fitnah, and no Khalwa (being alone together). (Islam-qa)

You may visit non-Muslims as well, since the Prophet (pbuh) visited a Jewish boy and called him to Islam, and he became Muslim. (Bukhaari).

Who is considered a sick person
If the sickness is preventing the person from seeing people, going out, etc., then the scholars say he is considered a sick person and one should try to visit him. However, if he is sick, but he is still going about his work, seeing people, etc., then it is not obligatory to visit him. (Al-Sharh al-Mumti’)

Principles to be followed when visiting
* Ask the person how he is, how he is feeling, etc., following the perfect example of the Prophet (pbuh). (Tirmidhi -hasan by al-Albaani).

* Try to cheer the patient up and talk positively. Give him glad tidings of healing Insha Allah, because this will comfort the sick person.

* The patient and his feelings and condition should be the topmost and only concern at all times.

* Generally speaking, one should make his visit short and not sit for too long with the patient, as it may be hard on the patient and his family.

* Consider the time of your visit (Not to visit too late at night or at the time of the patient’s nap, etc.)

* Do not keep visiting him every day, as it may be burdensome for the sick person. However, if it is someone close, and you know that they feel pleased and comforted to see you, then you may visit continuously.

* Do NOT sit on the patient’s bed, even if you do have to stand, as this might shake the bed and cause him pain, and he may be too polite to say anything.

* Do not be loud or make excessive noise.

* Do not overcrowd the patient with too many visitors at the same time. If you happen to visit him at a time when he already has other visitors, it may be better to politely leave and come back at a later time.

Make Dua for the sick person
* The Prophet (pbuh) said this dua three times when visiting the sick:
“La bas, tuhur in sha Allah” (No worry, it is a purification, if Allah wills).” (Bukhaari.)

* The Prophet (pbuh) used to place his right hand on the sick person and say: “Adhhib al-ba’s Rabb an-nas, wa’shfi anta al-Shafi, la shifa’a illa shifa’uka shifa’an la yughâdir saqaman ” (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).” (Muslim)
* The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Whoever visits a sick person who is not yet dying, and says seven times in his presence: ‘Asalu Allâha rabb al-arsh il-azîm an yashfiyaka

(I ask Allaah, Lord of the mighty Throne, to heal you), Allah will heal him of that sickness.) (Saheeh Abi Dawûd.)

May Allah enable us to understand and appreciate the Sunnah and apply it, not just in this matter, but in each and every walk of our life. Ameen.

Simple Words That Protect From Every Harm

Khawlah Bint Hakim narrated that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever arrives somewhere and says: ‘I seek refuge with Allah’s complete Words from the evil He has Created (A’oodhu bi-Kalimaathillaahi- Ath-Thaammaathi min-Sharri maa Khalaq),’ nothing will harm until he leaves that place.” (Sahih Muslim, no. 2708)

In Taysir Al-Aziz Al-Hamid (p. 146), Sulayman Bin Abdullah relates that Al-Qurtubi commented on this by saying:

“And this is true and real, and I believe in it due to the textual proof as well as my own experience. Since I heard this narration, I would constantly act upon it and nothing was able to harm me until I left it.

One night, I was stung by a scorpion in Al-Mahdiyyah (a province in Tunisia). So, I thought to myself until I realized that I had forgotten to seek refuge using these words.”
In Al-Qawl Al-Mufid (1/155), Al-Uthaymeen commented on this Hadith:

“This protection is from all human and jinn devils – whether they are visible or invisible – until the person leaves that place. And there is no way that what is described in this narration will not take place, as these are the words of the truthful one who is believed (i.e. the Messenger of Allah)!

However, if what is mentioned in this narration does not take place, it is because of a preventative factor and not because of a deficiency in the method itself or the narration.

This also applies to anything that the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned as a Shar’ee method in which the desired outcome is not achieved. So, this is not because of a fault in the method and is rather because of the presence of an obstacle that is blocking the desired outcome.

For example, reciting ‘Al-Fatihah’ for a sick person is a form of healing. Some people recite it and find that the sick person is not healed.

This is not because of a deficiency in this method and is instead because there is something present that is preventing this method from bringing about its desired effect.

Another example is mentioning Allah before having sexual intercourse in order to prevent Satan from harming the future child.

Some people will mention Allah and find that Satan still ends up harming the child due to something that is preventing this effect from being achieved.

So, you should check yourself to figure out what the obstacle is so that you can remove it and experience the effect of the method.”

Visiting The Sick

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said there were five rights of a Muslim towards his brother in faith, out of which one is that, if one were to fall sick, it is incumbent upon the others to inquire about his welfare and to alleviate his sufferings. (Bukhari and Muslim)

This is part of a long Hadith. We find such exemplary teachings in Islam to inquire about the welfare of the sick and to take lead to alleviate their sufferings.

The Hadith teaches us to take care of our near and dear ones and share their sufferings. If someone happens to fall sick or suffer from some ailment, we are enjoined not only to inquire about his suffering but also to alleviate it. This is out of our deep sense of service to humanity at large.

The sick, neurotic and deranged persons deserve our highest sympathies. Naturally, it becomes the foremost duty of a Muslim to look after them and to care for and nurse them with due kindness and compassion.

One’s superior stance and happy position should at no moment make him too good and too wise, out of his sense of false pride, to become indifferent and discourteous to the sick and infirm, nor should he run away with the notion that he will never fall sick, or that he will never be in such a predicament that he would need others’ help at any moment in his life.

To show compassion to the sick and to nurse them is an act of piety that pleases Allah and His Messenger. It also creates a salubrious effect among individuals in society. It develops cordial relations among them and strengthens their bonds of friendship and brotherhood.

And this mutual cooperation and amity act as a cementing force to fortify the arch pillar of the structure of Islamic society, thereby bringing stability to the community and the nation at large.