The Prophet of Mercy Website

By understanding the Qur’an and the sayings of the Prophet (peace be upon him) which are found in authentically narrated hadiths we may easily surmise that Islam places considerable importance on protecting the rights of the weak and aiding them in times of trial. Among the weak, are those that have been beset with sickness or disease. The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to encourage his followers to show concern for the sick, even explaining that such attention for the ill is a form of piety.

In one hadith we find that the spiritual reward attained by the one who visits the sick is likened to the harvest reaped by one who gathers fruit: “When the Muslim visits his (sick) Muslim brother, he is harvesting the fruits of Paradise until he returns.” [1]

According to al-Tirmidhi (2008), the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “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’.” [2]

Imam Ahmad narrated that Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever visits a sick person is plunging into mercy until he sits down, and when he sits down he is submerged in it.” [3]

Al-Tirmidhi (969) narrated that ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) say: “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.” [4]

Secondly, it is also noteworthy to mention that although the Prophet (peace be upon him) was an individual that was occupied with several matters of great importance, he was still able to find the time to visit the ill, as was the case with every good deed ordained by Islam, the Prophet (peace be upon him) led by example. His visiting, was not simply restricted to Muslims, rather he visited non-Muslims also, it seems such care on the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) behalf served as a means for people to embrace Islam as seen in an authentically narrated hadith in Saheeh al-Bukhaari [5], “there was a Jewish boy who used to serve the Prophet (peace be upon him). He fell sick, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came to visit him. He sat at his head and said to him, ‘embrace Islam.’ (The boy) looked towards his father, who was with him. (His father) said, ‘Obey Abul-Qasim (another name of the Prophet (peace be upon him)).’ So he embraced Islam, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) went out saying, ‘praise be to Allah who has saved him from the fire.’”

References:

[1] Narrated by Muslim, 2568.

[2] (Classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.)

[3] (Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 2504.)

[4] (Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.)

[5] Saheeh al-Bukhaari via Hammaad ibn Zayd from Thaabit from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him)

http://islam-qa.com/index.php?ref=71968&ln=eng&txt=visiting%20sick

http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/427/viewall/

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