Authentic Hadith pertaining to ILLNESS Extracted from Imam Nawawi’s Reference “The Gardens of Righteousness” translated and presented by Shaykh Ahmad Darwish, Anne (Khadeijah) Stephens Allah.com Muhammad.com Mosque.com ©1984-2012 Darwish Family. All rights reserved BOOK 9 VISITING THE SICK OBLIGATION TO VISIT THE SICK |H 907 “The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, enjoined seven things upon us and forbade seven. He ordered us to: Visit the sick. Attend the funeral. Supplicate for the Mercy of Allah on one who sneezes. Fulfill promises. Help those who are wronged. Accept an invitation. Increase the greeting of peace. He forbade us to: Wear gold rings (men). Drink from silver vessels. Sit on red silk cushioned saddles. Wear garments made from a mixture of silk and cotton yarn. Wear pure silk. Heavy silk and brocade.” We are also informed: “Announcement of lost property – is included in the first seven.” Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Bra'a son of 'Azib who related the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this. FIVE OBLIGATIONS |H 908 “There are five obligations owed by a Muslim to another: the return of his greeting, visiting him in sickness, attending his funeral, accepting his invitation, and saying, 'May Allah have mercy on you' after he has said, 'All praise is due to Allah' when he sneezed.” We are also informed: “There are six obligations owed by one Muslim to another. Upon meeting him he says, 'Peace be upon you. 'When he invites you accept the invitation. When he asks your advice you advise. When he sneezes and praises Allah, say to him, 'May Allah have mercy on you.' When he is sick you visit him. When he dies you attend his funeral.” Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Abu Hurairah who related the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this. VISITING THE SICK |H 363 “When someone visits a sick person or a brother for the sake of Allah, he is called by a herald who says, ‘You are good and your walking is good and you will enter a residence in Paradise.’” Tirmidhi with a chain up to Abu Hurairah who related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this. WHEN THE ANGELS SAY AMEEN |H 933 “When you visit someone who is sick or one who has just died say only that which is good, because the angels say ‘Ameen’ to whatever you say. She, Lady Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, added, 'When Abu Salamah died I went to the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, Abu Salamah has passed away.’ He directed me, ‘Supplicate, O Allah, forgive me and him and give to me in return a good replacement.’ I supplicated as he had directed, and Allah gave me one better than him” (who was Prophet Muhammad). Muslim with a chain up to Lady Umm Salamah, the wife of the Prophet, Mother of Believers, may Allah be pleased with her, who related the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this. VISITING THE SICK AND PROVIDING FOR THE NEEDY |H 909 “On the Day of Judgement, Allah, the Mighty the Glorified will say, 'Son of Adam, I was sick and you did not visit Me.' The human will exclaim, 'Lord, how could I visit You when You are the Lord of the worlds!' Allah will say, 'Did you not know that My worshiper so and so was sick but you did not visit him. Did you not realize that if you had visited him you would have found Me with him?' 'Son of Adam, I asked you for food and you did not feed Me.' The human will exclaim, 'Lord, how could I feed You when You are the Lord of the worlds!' Allah will say, 'Did you not know that My worshiper, so and so asked you for food but you did not feed him? Did you not realize that if you had fed him you would have found your reward with Me?' 'Son of Adam, I asked you for drink and you did not give Me to drink. The human will exclaim, 'Lord, how could I give You a drink when You are the Lord of the worlds!’ Allah will say, 'My worshiper so and so asked you for a drink but you did not give him a drink. Did you not realize that if you had given him a drink you would have found its reward with Me?'" Muslim with a chain up to Abu Hurairah who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this. CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER |H 910 “Visit the sick. Feed the hungry and procure the freedom of captives.” Bukhari with a chain up to Abu Musa Ash'ari who related the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this. HOW TO BE AMONG THE KHURFAH OF PARADISE |H 911 “When a Muslim visits a fellow Muslim who is sick, he is among the Khurfah of Paradise until he returns from his visit. The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, was asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, what is the Khurfah of Paradise?’ He answered, ‘It is harvested fruit.’” Muslim with a chain up to Thauban who related the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this. HOW TO RECEIVE SEVENTY THOUSAND BLESSINGS |H 912 “He (Ali) heard the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, say, ‘When a Muslim visits a sick Muslim in the morning, seventy thousand angels keep supplicating for blessings upon him till the evening. If he visits him during the evening, seventy thousand angels keep supplicating for blessings upon him till the morning, and in Paradise he is assigned an orchard of fruit trees.” Tirmidhi with a chain up to Ali who related the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this. HOW A JEWISH BOY WAS SAVED FROM THE FIRE |H 913 “A Jewish boy who served the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, became ill so the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, went to visit him and sat down near his head and said to him, ‘Accept Islam.’ The boy looked at his father who was close to him and his father told him, ‘Obey, the Father of Al Qasim’ whereupon the boy became a Muslim. When the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, left him he said, ‘All praise is due to Allah who has delivered him from the Fire.’" Bukhari with a chain up to Anas who related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this. HOW TO PRAY FOR THE SICK PRAYER FOR THE SICK |H 914 “When anyone complained to the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, of pain or suffered from a boil or an injury he would touch the earth with his forefinger, then raise it and say, ‘In the Name of Allah, I seek blessing from the dust of our earth which contains the saliva of some of us whereby our sick are healed by the order of Allah.’" Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Lady Ayesha, wife of the Prophet, Mother of Believers, may Allah be pleased with her, who related this. SUPPLICATION FOR THE SICK |H 915 “When the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, visited a sick member of his family he would touch the sick person with his right hand and supplicate, ‘O Allah, Lord of mankind, remove the affliction and bestow healing, You are the Healer of affliction, because there is no healing except Your healing, a healing that leaves no sickness behind.’" Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Lady Ayesha, wife of the Prophet, Mother of Believers, may Allah be pleased with her, who related this. SUPPLICATION FOR RECOVERY |H 916 “He (Anas) said to Thabit, ‘Shall I supplicate for your recovery as the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, use to supplicate for ailments?’ He said, ‘Please do.’ Whereupon Anas supplicated, 'O Allah, Lord of mankind, Remover of affliction, bestow healing, for You are the Healer, there is no healer except You, a healing that leaves no illness behind.'" Bukhari with a chain up to Anas who related this. ILLNESS OF SA'AD |H 917 “The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, visited him (Sa'ad the son of Abi Waqqas) during his illness and supplicated, ‘O Allah, bestow healing on Sa'ad; O Allah, bestow healing on Sa'ad; O Allah, bestow healing on Sa'ad.’" Muslim with a chain up to Sa'ad son of Abi Waqqas who related this. HOW TO SUPPLICATE FOR A CURE |H 918 “He (Osman the son of Abdul 'As) complained to the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, of an ache that afflicted his body, and was told, ‘Place your hand on the part of your body that aches then say 'Bismillah' three times, and then repeat seven times: I seek the protection of the Honor and Might of Allah from the evil afflicting me and that which I fear.’" Muslim with a chain up to Osman son of Abul 'As who related this. SUPPLICATION FOR A CURE |H 919 “If a person visits a person who is sick and not on the point of death and supplicates seven times: I beseech Allah the Glorious, Lord of the Glorious Throne, to heal you. Allah will heal his sickness.’" Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi with a chain up to ibn Abbas who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this. INSH'ALLAH, ILLNESS IS A PURIFICATION |H 920 “The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, visited a Bedouin Arab who was ill. When he visited someone who was ill he would say, ‘Have no fear. The illness is purification, if Allah wills.’” Bukhari with a chain up to ibn Abbas who related this. SUPPLICATION OF THE ANGEL GABRIEL |H 921 “Gabriel came to me and inquired, ‘O Muhammad, are you in pain?’ I answered, ‘Yes.’ Whereupon Gabriel said, ‘In the Name of Allah, I cleanse you of all that troubles you and from the mischief of every person and of every envious eye. May Allah recover you. Bismillah, I cleanse you.’" Muslim with a chain up to Abu Sa'id Khudri who related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this. TERMINAL ILLNESS AND HOW TO BE SAVED FROM THE FIRE |H 922 “If a person says: There is no god except Allah, Allah is the Greatest, his Lord responds to him and affirms: There is no god except Me and I am the Greatest. When he says: There is no god except Allah, the One; He has no associate. Allah, the Exalted affirms: There is no god except Me who is alone and has no associate. When he says: There is no god except Allah. His is the Kingdom and His the praise. Allah affirms: There is no god except Me; Mine is the praise and Mine is the Kingdom. When he says: There is no god except Allah; and there is neither strength nor power except that which is with Allah. He affirms: There is no god except Me, and there is no strength nor power except that which is with Me.’ ‘Whosoever says this in his illness and dies thereafter will not be consumed by the Fire.’" Tirmidhi with a chain up to Abu Sa'id Khudri and Abu Hurairah who related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this. CURE FOR YOUR EYES |H 1921 “I, (Sa'id, the son of Zaid) heard the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, say, ‘Cam'at is a species of manna and its liquid is a cure for the eye.’" Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Sa'id the son of Zaid who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this. HEADACHES |H 929 “I, Lady Ayesha, wife of the Prophet, Mother of the believers, may Allah be pleased with her, said, ‘Oh, my headache’ whereupon the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said, ‘Rather, I would say, oh, my headache.’" Bukhari with a chain up to Qasim son of Muhammad who related that Lady Ayesha, the wife of the Prophet, the Mother of Believers, may Allah be pleased with her, said this. INQUIRING ABOUT THE SICK FROM FAMILY MEMBERS LAST ILLNESS OF THE PROPHET |H 923 “When Ali son of Abu Talib, came out from the room of the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, during the illness preceding his death and the people asked, ‘Father of Hasan, how is the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, this morning?’ He answered, ‘He awoke with praise be to Allah, cured.’” Bukhari with a chain up to ibn Abbas who related this. PATIENCE IN ILLNESS AND DEATH |H 29 “When the illness of the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, became so serious that his suffering caused him to fall unconscious, Lady Fatima exclaimed, ‘Oh, the suffering of my dear father.’ He said to her, ‘After today, there is no more suffering for your father.’ And when he passed away she said, ‘O my father, he has answered the call of his Lord. O my father, the Gardens of Paradise have become your home. O, my father, to Gabriel we condole.’ When he was buried she said, ‘How can you reconcile with yourselves pouring dust over the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him?’” Bukhari with a chain up to Anas who related this. PATIENCE PATIENCE DURING ILLNESS |H 34 “Lady Ayesha, wife of the Prophet, Mother of the believers, may Allah be pleased with her, asked the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, what the plague was. He replied: 'It is a punishment that Allah sends upon whom He wills; but for Muslims He has made it as a mercy. If a worshiper of Allah is afflicted by the plague and remains patiently in his town hoping to be recompensed by Allah, with the realization that only that which is determined by Allah will happen to him, he will indeed receive a recompense equal to that of a martyr.” Bukhari with a chain up to the Mother of Believers, Lady Ayesha who related this. PATIENCE IN BLINDNESS |H 35 “Allah, the Mighty, the Glorified says, 'When I afflict the two beloved faculties (eyes) of a worshiper of Mine, and he remains patient with this affliction, in their place I will give him Paradise.'” Bukhari with a chain up to Anas who related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said the above. PATIENCE WHEN AFFLICTED BY A DISEASE |H 36 "’Shall I show you a woman who will be among the dwellers of Paradise?’ Asked ibn Abbas. ‘Certainly’ said Ata son of Abi Rabah. Ibn Abbas then pointed to a dark skinned lady and said, ‘That lady came to the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, and said: Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, I suffer from epilepsy, when I have a fit my body is exposed. Please pray to Allah for me. He replied, 'If you choose to be patient with this affliction, you will win Paradise, but if you wish, I will pray to Allah to recover you.' The woman replied, 'I shall be patient, but please pray that my body will not be exposed.' And accordingly he prayed for her." Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Ata son of Abi Rabah who related that son of Abbas told him this. THE REMOVAL OF SINS |H 38 “Whatever trouble, illness, anxiety, grief, hurt or sorrow that afflicts a Muslim, even the prick of a thorn, Allah removes in its place some of his sins.” Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Abu Sa'id and Abu Hurairah who related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this. SUFFERING AND THE REMOVAL OF SINS |H 39 “I (Abdullah son of Mas'ud) said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, you have a very high fever.’ He replied, ‘Indeed, my fever is as high as that of two of you.’ I said, ‘That is because you will receive twice the reward.’ The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, replied, ‘That is so. A Muslim does not suffer from anything, even from a (little) thorn prick or greater, unless Allah removes (from him) in its stead some of his sins, and his sins fall as leaves fall from a tree.’" Abdullah son of Mas'ud related that he visited the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, when he had fever and that he said this. WEEPING OF A SISTER |H 1708 “When Abdullah, the son of Rawahal became unconscious during his illness his sister started to weep over him and said, ‘O you mountain among men', and so on. When he recovered consciousness he said, ‘Whatever you said I was asked: Are you like this?'" Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Nu'man the son of Bashir who related this. SICKNESS AND HEALTH, LIFE AND DEATH |H 577 “The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, took hold of ibn Omar by his shoulders and said, ‘Be in the world as if you are a stranger or a traveler.’” Ibn Omar would say: "When evening arrives do not look forward to the morning and when morning arrives do not look forward to the evening. During health prepare for illness, and while you are alive prepare for death." Bukhari with a chain up to ibn Omar who related this hadith. GOOD TIDINGS |H 1721 “There is no catching of sickness (Allah creates sickness) there is no omen, but, good tidings please me. The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, was asked, ‘What is a good tiding?’ He replied, ‘A good word.’" Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Anas who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this. CURSING A FEVER CLEANSING OF FEVER |H 1775 “The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, visited Umm Saib and asked her, ‘What is the matter with you, Umm Saib, you are shivering.’ She answered, ‘It is a fever, may Allah not bless it.’ He told her, ‘Do not abuse fever, because it cleanses sins as a furnace cleanses dirt from iron.’" Muslim with a chain up to Jabir who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this. FEVER IS FROM THE HEAT OF HELL |H 1909 “Fever is from the heat of Hell. It should be extinguished with water.” Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Lady Ayesha, wife of the Prophet, Mother of Believers, may Allah be pleased with her, who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this. UNDESIRABILITY OF LEAVING OR GOING TO A PLACE IN WHICH THERE IS A PLAGUE Allah, the Exalted says: “Wherever you are, death will overtake you, even if you shall be in fortified, high towers.” 4.78 Koran “..... and do not cast into destruction with your own hands.” 2:195 Koran PLAGUE STRICKEN AREAS |H 1841 “(Caliph) Omar, the son of Khattab set off to go to Syria. When he arrived at Sargh he was met by Abu Ubaidah, the son of Jarrah, the Commander of the Muslim army, and his officers who told him that a plague had broken out in the Syrian countries. Ibn Abbas said that Omar told him to gather the first Emigrants together and informed them of the plague in Syria. They counseled with him but differed among themselves. Some said, ‘You started out on a mission therefore you should continue.’ Others said, ‘You have the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, as well as many other people with you, and we do not think it is right to expose them to this plague.’ After that he requested them to withdraw and asked me to call the Helpers (Al Ansar). So I called them and he consulted them but they too were divided in their opinion. So he requested them to withdraw and asked me to call the prominent Emigrants from among the Koraysh tribe who were present during the Opening of Mecca. So I called them and they were in complete agreement. They advised him, ‘We think you should go back and not lead the people into the plague.’ Thereupon Omar had it announced that he would start back the next morning. The next morning after all the preparations had been made, Abu Ubaidah, the son of Jarrah said to Umar, ‘Do your propose to turn away from the decree of Allah?’ Omar replied, ‘Abu Ubaidah, I wish someone else had said this’ - because Omar used to hate to differ with him - Omar continued, ‘Yes, we are turning away from the decree of Allah to another decree of Allah.’ Then he said, ‘Tell me, if you had a herd of camels in a valley and the valley had two sides; one fertile and green and the other dry and barren, if you let them graze upon the green part wouldn’t that be by the decree of Allah, or if you let them graze upon the dry part, wouldn't that also be by the decree of Allah?’ Then Abdur Rahman, the son of Auf who had been absent on some errand of his own came forward and said, ‘I have some knowledge about this matter. I heard the Messenger of Allah say, ‘If you hear of an epidemic in a land do not enter it, and if you happen to be in a land when an epidemic breaks out, do not run away from it.'" Upon hearing this Omar praised Allah and returned. Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to ibn Abbas who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this. OUTBREAK OF PLAGUE |H 1842 “If you hear of a plague in a land, do not enter it. But, if there is an outbreak in the land in which you happen to be, do not leave it.” Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Osama the son of Zaid who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this. INDEX ILLNESS BOOK 9 VISITING THE SICK OBLIGATION TO VISIT THE SICK FIVE OBLIGATIONS VISITING THE SICK WHEN THE ANGELS SAY AMEEN VISITING THE SICK AND PROVIDING FOR THE NEEDY CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER HOW TO BE AMONG THE KHURFAH OF PARADISE HOW TO RECEIVE SEVENTY THOUSAND BLESSINGS HOW A JEWISH BOY WAS SAVED FROM THE FIRE HOW TO PRAY FOR THE SICK PRAYER FOR THE SICK SUPPLICATION FOR THE SICK SUPPLICATION FOR RECOVERY ILLNESS OF SA'AD HOW TO SUPPLICATE FOR A CURE SUPPLICATION FOR A CURE INSH'ALLAH, ILLNESS IS A PURIFICATION SUPPLICATION OF THE ANGEL GABRIEL TERMINAL ILLNESS AND HOW TO BE SAVED FROM THE FIRE CURE FOR YOUR EYES HEADACHES INQUIRING ABOUT THE SICK FROM FAMILY MEMBERS LAST ILLNESS OF THE PROPHET PATIENCE IN ILLNESS AND DEATH PATIENCE PATIENCE DURING ILLNESS PATIENCE IN BLINDNESS PATIENCE WHEN AFFLICTED BY A DISEASE THE REMOVAL OF SINS SUFFERING AND THE REMOVAL OF SINS WEEPING OF A SISTER SICKNESS AND HEALTH, LIFE AND DEATH GOOD TIDINGS CURSING A FEVER CLEANSING OF FEVER FEVER IS FROM THE HEAT OF HELL UNDESIRABILITY OF LEAVING OR GOING TO A PLACE IN WHICH THERE IS A PLAGUE PLAGUE STRICKEN AREAS OUTBREAK OF PLAGUE