The Virtues of Visiting the Sick: A Prophetic Tradition

Understanding the Blessings of Visiting the Sick in Islam

Visiting the Sick.

Visiting the sick is one of the most rewarding tasks as numerous hadiths speak of its virtue, such as the words of the Prophet (ﷺ), narrated by ‘Ali (may ALLĀH be pleased with him), who said: I heard the Messenger of ALLĀH (ﷺ) 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." {At-Tirmidhi #969}

Ibn al-Qayyim (may ALLĀH have mercy on him) said: “The Prophet (ﷺ) did not specify any particular day or time for visiting the sick, rather he prescribed that for his ummah by night and by day, at all times.” {Zad al-Ma’ad, 1/497}

In another ḥadith, the Messenger of ALLĀH (ﷺ) 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’." {At-Tirmidhi #2008}

Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Aal ash-Shaykh (may ALLĀH preserve him upon goodness) said in response to a question on the ḥadith in at-Tirmidhi #969: “It seems that this is specific for illness. Because the sick is the one who is in need of visit; ˹so that˺ he becomes happy in the company of his ˹Muslim˺ brother, rejoices when seeing him, and he (the visitor) bandages his wounds, comforts him during his calamity, helps him to remain patient, he (the sick) is in need of advice, he (the visitor) helps him to settle his debt and other than that. On the other hand there is ˹undoubtedly˺ virtue in a Muslim visiting his Muslim brother, however its virtue; the virtue of visiting the sick is greater.” {Source}

May ALLĀH grant our sick ones complete shifa and a speedy recovery, and grant us the ability to fulfill this prophetic tradition.