Hadith>Articles>Etiquettes Of Visiting the Sick

ترجمۂ کنزالایمان: اللہ کے نام سے شروع جو نہایت مہربان رحم والا

Translation: Allah in the name of the most Affectionate the Merciful

Du’a for Reading the Book or Islamic Lesson

Read the following Du’a (supplication) before studying a religious book or Islamic lesson , you will remember whatever you study.

Translation:Ya Allah! Open the portal of knowledge and wisdom for us, and have mercy on us! O the one who is the most honourable and glorious! (Al-Mustaraf, vol. 1, pp. 40)

Note: Recite Durud Sharif once before and after the Du’a.

ترجمۂ کنزالایمان:اور اگر جب وہ اپنی جانوں پر ظلم کریں تو اے محبوب تمہارے حضور حاضر ہوں اور پھر اللہ سے معافی چاہیں اور رسول ان کی شفاعت فرمائے تو ضرور اللہ کو بہت توبہ قبول کرنے والا مہربان پائیں۔

                                                                                                      

Translation of Kanzul Iman:And if when they do justice unto their souls, then O beloved! They should come to you and then beg forgiveness of Allah and the messenger should intercede for them then surely, they would find Allah Most Relenting, Merciful (4:64)

Excellence of Durud Shareef

The Noble Rasool صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم has stated, ‘Whoever recites Salat upon me one time, Allah عزوجل sends ten mercies upon him.’ (Sahih Muslim, pp. 166, vol. 1)

Etiquettes Of Visiting the Sick And Treatment (Of Ailments)

Hadith 1: In Sahih Bukhari it is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurairah رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘Allah has not sent down any illness without sending down its cure’.

Hadith 2: It is in Sahih Muslim from Jaabir رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘There is a medicine for every illness. When the medicine reaches the illness, it will be cured through the Command of Allah’.

Hadith 3: Imam Ahmed, Tirmizi and Abu Dawud have reported on the authority of Usama bin Shuraik رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that the people said, ‘Ya Rasool’Allah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم! Should we use medicine (i.e. should we take treatment for our illnesses)?’ He صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘Yes O servants of Allah! Use medicine, because Allah has not sent a sickness, without setting Shifa (cure) for it, but for one sickness, which is old-age’.

Hadith 4: Abu Dawud reported from Abu Dardah رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘illness and its medicine have both been sent down by Allah. He has set aside medicine for every illness, so you should use medication, but do not take treatment from Haraam (i.e. do not use that which is haraam as medicine).’

Hadith 5: Imam Ahmed, Abu Dawud, Tirmizi and Ibn Majah have reported on the authority of Abu Hurairah رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم forbade the use of impure medicines.

Hadith 6: Tirmizi and Ibn Majah reported on the authority of Uqba bin Aamir رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘Do not force the sick to eat, for Allah sustains them’.

Hadith 7: Ibn Majah reported from Ibn Ab’bas رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہما that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘When a sick person wishes to eat something, then feed him’. This command applies at the time when he is really hungry.

Hadith 8: Abu Dawud reported on the authority of Umm-e-Munzir bint Qais رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہاwho says, Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم visited my home together with Hazrat Ali رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ. Hazrat Ali رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ was feeling very weak. He had just recovered from an illness. Bunches of dates were hanging in the house. Huzoor-e-Akram صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم ate some dates from it. Hazrat Ali رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ also intended to eat, (but) Huzoor صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم stopped him and said, ‘You are weak’. She says, ‘I cooked wheat and beetroot and presented it before them’. Huzoor صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said to Hazrat Ali رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ ‘Take some from this, as it is beneficial to you’. It can be deduced from this Hadith that a sick person should take preventative measures. He should abstain from eating those things which are harmful to him.

Hadith 9: Imam Ahmed, Tirmizi and Abu Dawud have reported on the authority of Imraan bin Haseen and Ibn Majah has reported on the authority of Buraidah رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہم that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘There is no incantation (i.e. reading and blowing over someone) but for casting away the evil eye and for the bite of a poisonous creature. (In other words, it is most effective in both these cases)’.

Hadith 10: Imam Ahmed, Tirmizi and Ibn Majah reported on the authority of Asma bint Umais رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہا that she said, ‘Ya Rasool’Allahصلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم! The children of Ja’far رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ are very easily afflicted by the evil eye. Should we perform any incantations (to ward away the evil eye)?’ He صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘Yes, for if there was anything that was to surpass Taqdeer then it would have been the evil eye, which would have surpassed it’.

Hadith 11: It is in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim from Hazrat A’isha رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہا that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم commanded incantation for casting away the evil eye.

Hadith 12: It is in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Hazrat Umm-e-Salma رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہا who says that there was a girl living in her house, whose face was yellowish. Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘Do an incantation for her, as she has been afflicted by an evil eye’.

Hadith 13: It is in Sahih Muslim on the authority of Hazrat Jaabir رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that the Prophet صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم forbade incantations. The family of Amr bin Hazm came forth and said, ‘Ya Rasool’Allah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم but we possess an incantation for the sting of a scorpion’, and they presented this before Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم. He صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘There is no objection to this. One, who can benefit his brother, should assist him’.

Hadith 14: It is in Sahih Muslim on the authority of Auf bin Maalik Ashja’i رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ. He says, ‘We practiced incantation in the pre-Islamic days and we said Ya Rasool’Allah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم! What do you command regarding this?’ He صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘Present your incantation before me’. (He صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم then said), ‘There is no harm in the incantation for as long as it does not contain any ‘Shirk’ (polytheism) in it’ (i.e. for as long as it does not contain any polytheistic elements).

Hadith 15: It is in Sahih Bukhari on the authority of Abu Hurairah رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘neither is there Adwa[1], nor any bad omen, nor is there any Hamah[2] and nor Safar[3], and one should flee from a leper as you flee from a lion’. It is mentioned in another narration that a Bedouin said, ‘Ya Rasool’Allah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم! How is it that a camel is like a deer (pure and clean) when it is in the desert and when a camel afflicted with the scab mixes with it, it also becomes afflicted with the scab?’ Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘Who infected the first one with the illness?’ In other words just as the first camel was afflicted by the scab, so was the second. It is incorrect to say that an illness is transmittable (by itself), and the command to stay away (flee) from a leper falls under the category of it being a means of hindrance, because if by associating with him, another person gets leprosy, then one will feel that this happened due to association with such a person. We have been commanded to stay away from him, to prevent us from having such an incorrect perception.

Hadith 16: It is in Bukhari and Muslim from Hazrat Abu Hurairah رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ. He says, ‘I heard Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم saying, ‘There is no bad omen (i.e. bad omen from birds) and the best omen is the Faal’. People asked ‘What is a Faal?’ He صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘A good word that you hear from someone’ (i.e. and he takes it as a good omen).’ In other words, if when going somewhere or when about to do something, someone says some good words to you, this is taken as a good omen.

Hadith 17: It is in Abu Dawud and Tirmizi on the authority of Abdullah ibn Mas’ud رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘Tiyara (Bad-Omen) is polytheism’, and he said this thrice. Whosoever is from amongst us, should walk away, having complete trust in Allah.

Hadith 18: Tirmizi has reported on the authority of Anas رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that when the Prophet صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم would go out for any reason, he would be pleased to hear (the words) ‘Ya Raashid’ and ‘Ya Najih’. In other words, if anyone addressed someone by these names, the Prophet صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم would become pleased by it, as this is a good omen of success and salvation.

Hadith 19: Abu Dawud reported from Buraydah رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Nabi Kareem صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم did not take bad omens from anything, but when he sent out an Aamil (agent or collector) he would ask about his name. If his name pleased him, he would be glad with it, and Huzoor’s صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم cheerfulness was visible in his face and if he disliked his name, his displeasure was noticeable in his face. This Hadith does not mean that he used to take bad omens from names, but the reality is that Huzoor صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم used to be pleased with good names and displeased with bad names.

Hadith 20: Abu Dawud reported (Mursalan) from Urwah ibn Amir رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that when taking a bad omen was mentioned in his presence, Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘Faal (Omen) is good, and a bad omen should not cause a Muslim to turn back.’ In other words, if one was going out somewhere and a bad omen occurred, he should not return, but rather he should continue (to where he was going). When a person sees anything which he does not like, in other words (if he notices) a bad omen, he should say:

اَللّٰھُمَّ لَا یَأْ تِیْ بِالْحَسَنَاتِ اِلَّا اَنْتَ وَلَا یَدْفَعُ السَّیِّاٰتِ اِلَّا اَنْتَ وَلَاحَوْلَ وَلَاقُوّۃَ اِلَّا بِاللہِ۔ ‘Allahumma La Yaati Bil Hasanaati il’la Anta wa La Yadfa’us Say’yi’aati il’la Anta Wa La Hawla Wa La Quw’wata il’la bil’laahi’

Hadith 21: It is reported in Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Usama bin Zaid رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہما that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘If you hear of plague in a land then do not go there. If plague should appear in a place where you are present, then do not leave that place in order to run away from it’.

Hadith 22: It has been reported in Sahih Muslim from Usama bin Zaid رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہمار that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘Plague is the sign of punishment. Allah caused some people from His servants to be afflicted by it. So when you hear about it occurring somewhere, do not enter there, and when it breaks out in a land wherein you are present, then do not run away from it’.

Hadith 23: Imam Ahmed and Bukhari have reported on the authority of A’isha رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہا that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘Plague was a punishment which Allah sends against whomever He Wills. Allah has made it a mercy for the believers. One who remains steadfast with patience in a land infected by plague, hoping for reward and knowing that only that which Allah has written for him will befall him, then he shall attain the reward equivalent to that of the martyr.’

Hadith 24: Imam Bukhari, Muslim and Ahmed have reported on the authority of A’isha رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہا that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘(Death from) plague is martyrdom) for every Muslim.’

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[1] Neither is there Adwa here means that there is no transmitive disease that is passed without the Will of Allah.

[2] Hamah here refers to an owl. In the days of ignorance, the people of Arabia, held many views regarding an owl, and even today some people regarded it as being ill-omened. Whatever the case may be, the Hadith has clarified, that there is no credibility to this.

[3] No Hamah or Safar here refers to bad omen especially in the month of Safar. People regarded Safar as being ill-omened. It has been mentioned in the Hadith that there is no basis for this.

Ya Allah عزوجل of Mustafa  صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم! We make sincere Dua that  blesses us all with strength in Imaan and true love for the Holy Prophet  صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلمand for all those who follow that which has been taught and commanded by Him. Amin! (Source: Extracted from Bahaar-e-Shariat Volume 16)

Courtesy: Imam Mustafa Raza Research Center

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