Project "Revive a Sunnah" Week 24

Week 24: March 16th-23rd 2007
(26th of Safar-4th of Rabiul-Awwal 1428 AH)

This worldly life is filled with trials and tribulations. And one of these trials which Allah has decreed for us in this life is illness. For a believer, even becoming ill is a good thing. Through His infinite mercy, this is one of the ways in which Allah forgives the sins of his servants. But, what do we do when our brother or sister in Islam gets sick? A Muslim should visit his fellow Muslim in the time of an illness. As we will see from the ahadith, it is one of the rights that a Muslim has over another Muslim. Unfortunately today, this is not widely practiced amongst us. We hear all of the time about this brother being sick, or about that sister being sick, but do we really do our best to visit him or her? I hope the following ahadith will encourage us to revive this praiseworthy sunnah, Insha Allah.

From the Ahadith:

1.
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Every Muslim has five rights over another Muslim (i.e., he has to perform five duties for another Muslim): to return the greetings, to visit the sick, to accompany funeral processions, to accept an invitation, to respond to the sneezer [i.e., to say: `Yarhamuk-Allah (may Allah bestow His Mercy on you),' when the sneezer praises Allah].''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

2.
Abu Musa (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Visit the sick, feed the hungry, and (arrange for the) release of the captive.''
[Al-Bukhari]

3.
`Ali bin Abu Talib (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saying, "When a Muslim visits a sick Muslim at dawn, seventy thousand angels keep on praying for him till dusk. If he visits him in the evening, seventy thousand angels keep on praying for him till the morning; and he will have (his share of) reaped fruits in Jannah.''
[At-Tirmidhi]

This sunnah was nominated by a sister. May Allah reward her and all of those who take part in reviving the sunnah of the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam).

You are most welcome to direct any Feedback/Comments/Suggestions/Nominations to albosnawi@gmail.com

May Allah reward you all.
Praise be to Allah and may the blessings be upon the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam).

Wa Salaamu Alaykoum,

Kemal Smajlovic