Virtues of Visiting the Sick

It is a Sunnah of our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alaihi WasSalaam) to visit the sick. We should always visit those who are sick because it helps us to reflect and take heed, as those who are ill are close to Allah Ta'ala. We have only to consider that the sick person has no one to call but Allah Ta'ala, nothing to reflect on but Allah Ta'ala, and his condition reminds us of the blessing of health.

Hadrat Abu Moosa (Radiallahu Anhu) reports that the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi WasSalaam) said, 'Visit the sick, feed the hungry and free the one who is imprisoned (unjustly).' 

Hadrat Ali (Radiallahu Anhu) reports that the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi WasSalaam) said, 'When a Muslim visits his sick Muslim brother in the morning, seventy thousand angels make dua for his forgiveness till the evening. And when he visits him in the evening, seventy thousand angels make dua for his forgiveness till the morning, and he will be granted a garden for it in Jannah.' [Timizi, Abu Dawood]

Hadrat Anas (Radiallahu Anhu) reports that the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi WasSalaam) said, 'When a person performs a proper wudhu (observing all its etiquette) and then goes to visit his sick Muslim brother with the intention of gaining sawaab, then he will be kept far away from the Fire of Jahannam by a distance equivalent of Sixty years.' 

Our Beloved Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi WasSalaam) also said, 'Whoever visits a sick person (for the pleasure of Allah), a Caller from the skies announces: You are indeed blessed and your walking is blessed and you have (by this noble act) built yourself a home in Jannah.' 

Hadrat Ibn Abbaas (Radiallahu Anhu) relates: It is part of the Sunnah that when you visit a sick person, you should shorten your visit to him and make the least amount of noise by him.

Once our Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi WasSalaam) said, 'The best type of visit to a sick person is when the visitor gets up to leave without delay.' 

If we act upon these simple teachings, then the visitors to a hospital will no longer remain a problem for those who are in charge of the administration of hospitals.

Hadrat Umm Salmah (Radiallahu Anhu) relates that the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi WasSalaam) said, 'When you visit a sick person or (go to the home of) someone who has died, then speak only what is good, for the angels say 'aameen' to whatever you will say.' 

Hadrat Abu Sa'eed Khudri (Radiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah(Sallallaahu alaiyhi wassallam) said, 'When you visit a sick person, speak in a reassuring way to him (about his age and his life).' (For instance, tell him, 'Alhamdulillah, your health has improved' or 'Inshaa Allah you will get better soon.') Saying this will not delay what is predestined, but it will certainly make him feel happy.' [Tirmizi, Ibn Maajah]