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Editorial

Rights of A Sick Muslim: Needs of This Time

The Prophet said: If anyone visits a sick whose time (of death) has not come, and says with him seven times: I ask Allah, the Mighty, the Lord of the mighty Throne, to cure you, Allah will cure him from that disease. Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 3100, Narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas .

The Prophet said: If anyone performs ablution well and pays a sick-visit to his brother Muslim seeking his reward from Allah, he will be removed a distance of sixty years (kharif) from Hell. I asked: What is kharif, AbuHamzah? He replied: A year. Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 3091, Narrated by Anas ibn Malik .

The Apostle of Allah visited me while I was sick. He said: Be glad, Umm al-Ala' for Allah removes the sins of a Muslim for his illness as fire removes the dross of gold and silver. Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 3086, Narrated by Umm al-Ala .

Anas used to tell of the Prophet that he would visit the sick, attend funerals, accept a slave's invitation, and ride on a donkey. He said he had seen him on a donkey at the battle for Khaybar using a rein of palm-fibres. Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 5821, Narrated by Anas ibn Malik (Ibn Majah and Bayhaqi, in Shu'ab al-Iman, transmitted it.)

The Prophet said, "Give food to the hungry, pay a visit to the sick and release (set free) the one in captivity (by paying his ransom)." Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith 7.286, Narrated by Abu Musa Al Ashari .

Whenever Allah's Apostle became sick, he would recite Mu'awwidhat (Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas) and then blow his breath over his body. When he became seriously ill, I used to recite (these two Suras) and rub his hands over his body hoping for its blessings. Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith 6.535, Narrated by Aisha .

The Prophet said, "Free the captives, feed the hungry and pay a visit to the sick." Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith 4.282, Narrated by Abu Musa .

The Prophet said, "Feed the hungry, visit the sick, and set free the captives." Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith 7.552, Narrated by Abu Muisa Al Ashari .

Allah's Apostle ordered us to do seven things and forbade us to do seven other things. He forbade us to wear gold rings, silk, Dibaj, Istabriq, Qassiy, and Maithara; and ordered us to accompany funeral processions, visit the sick and greet everybody. Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith 7.553, Narrated by Al Bara bin Azib .

Allah's Apostle ordered us to do seven (things): to visit the sick, to follow the funeral processions, to say Tashmit to a sneezer, to help the weak, to help the oppressed ones, to propagate As-Salam (greeting), and to help others to fulfill their oaths (if it is not sinful). He forbade us to drink from silver utensils, to wear gold rings, to ride on silken saddles, to wear silk clothes, Dibaj (thick silk cloth), Qassiy and Istabriq (two kinds of silk). Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith 8.253A, Narrated by Al Bara bin Azib .

The Prophet ordered us to do seven (things) and forbade us from seven (other things): He ordered us to pay a visit to the sick, to follow funeral possessions, to say "May Allah be merciful to you" to a sneezer if he says: "Praise be to Allah," to accept invitation (invitation to a wedding banquet), to return greetings, to help the oppressed, and to help others to fulfill their oaths (provided it was not sinful). And he forbade us from seven (things): to wear golden rings or golden bangles, to wear silk (cloth), Dibaj, Sundus and Mayathir. Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith 8.241, Narrated by Al Bara .

The Prophet forbade us to use seven things: He forbade using gold rings, silk, Istabriq, Dibaj, red Mayathir, Al-Qassiy, and silver utensils. He ordered us to do seven other things. To pay a visit to the sick; to follow funeral processions; to say, "May Allah be merciful to you" to a sneezer if he says "Praise be to Allah"; to return greetings, to accept invitations; to help others to fulfill their oaths and to help the oppressed ones. Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith 7.753, Narrated by Al Bara bin Azib .

The Prophet ordered us to observe seven things: To visit the sick; follow funeral processions; say "May Allah bestow His Mercy on you," to the sneezer if he says, "Praise be to Allah!"; He forbade us to wear silk, Dibaj, Qassiy and Istibarq (various kinds of silken clothes); or to use red Mayathir (silk-cushions). Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith 7.740, Narrated by Al Bara .

Allah's Apostle ordered us to do seven things and forbade us from seven. He ordered us to visit the sick, to follow funeral processions, (to say) to a sneezer, "May Allah bestow His Mercy on you", if he says, "Praise be to Allah", to accept invitations, to greet (everybody), to help the oppressed and to help others to fulfill their oaths. He forbade us to wear gold rings, to drink in silver (utensils), to use Mayathir (silken carpets placed on saddles), to wear Al-Qassiy (a kind of silken cloth), to wear silk, Dibaj or Istabriq (two kinds of silk). Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith 7.539, Narrated by Al Bara bin Azib .

Allah's Apostle ordered us to do seven things and forbade us to do other seven. He ordered us: to follow the funeral procession, to visit the sick, to accept invitations, to help the oppressed, to fulfill the oaths, to return the greeting and to reply to the sneezer (saying, "May Allah be merciful on you," provided the sneezer says, "All the praises are for Allah,"). He forbade us to use silver utensils and dishes and to wear golden rings, silk (clothes), Dibaj (pure silk cloth), Qissi and Istabraq (two kinds of silk cloths). Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith 2.331, Narrated by Al Bara bin Azib .

I heard Al-Bara' bin 'Azib saying, "The Prophet orders us to do seven things and prohibited us from doing seven other things." Then Al-Bara' mentioned the following: (1) To pay a visit to the sick (inquiring about his health), (2) to follow funeral processions, (3) to say to a sneezer, "May Allah be merciful to you" (if he says, "Praise be to Allah!"), (4) to return greetings, (5) to help the oppressed, (6) to accept invitations, (7) to help others to fulfill their oaths. (See Hadith No. 753, Vol. 7). Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith 3.625,Narrated by Muawiya bin Suwaid.

Allah's Apostle 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, Hadith 6227 Narrated by Thawban.

A young Jewish boy used to serve the Prophet and he became sick. So the Prophet went to visit him. He sat near his head and asked him to embrace Islam. The boy looked at his father, who was sitting there; the latter told him to obey Abul-Qasim and the boy embraced Islam. The Prophet came out saying: "Praises be to Allah Who saved the boy from the Hell-fire." Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith 2.438. Narrated by Anas.

Thabit and I went to Anas bin Malik . Thabit said, "O Abu Hamza! I am sick." On that Anas said, "Shall I treat you with the Ruqya of Allah's Apostle ?" Thabit said, "Yes." Anas recited, "O Allah! The Lord of the people, the Remover of trouble! (Please) cure (Heal) (this patient), for You are the Healer. None brings about healing but You; a healing that will leave behind no ailment." Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith 7.638, Narrated by Abdul Aziz.

Allah's Apostle said, Verily, Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, will say on the Day of Resurrection: O son of Adam, I was sick but you did not visit Me. He will say: O my Lord, how could I visit Thee when Thou art the Lord of the worlds? Thereupon He will say: Didn't you know that a certain servant of Mine was sick but you did not visit him, and were you not aware that if you had visited him, you would have found Me by him? O son of Adam, I asked you for food but you did not feed Me. He will say: My Lord, how could I feed Thee when Thou art the Lord of the worlds? He will say: Didn't you know that a certain servant of Mine asked you for food but you did not feed him, and were you not aware that if you had fed him you would have found him by My side? (The Lord will again say:) O son of Adam, I asked you for something to drink but you did not provide Me with any. He will say: My Lord, how could I provide Thee with something to drink when Thou art the Lord of the worlds? Thereupon He will say: A certain servant of Mine asked you for a drink but you did not provide him with one, and had you provided him with a drink you would have found him near Me. Sahih Muslim, Hadith 6232, Narrated by Abu Hurayrah .

Editor's note: In our communities there are sick people. It is our duty to find out about them and visit them. If we cannot do it often enough ourselves we need to form groups that can take turns to fulfill this obligation. We encourage the sick among us to let us know. Iinsha Allah we shall convey their needs to the Amirs of the local masajid. Do not hesitate to contact us, you will be doing us a favor.

Published: July 1997