From "Tibb un Nabawiyy" of Shaykh Jaluddin as Suyuti al Misra
A complete exposition on the good that results from sickness, on visits to the sick and other matters.
"Verily sickness is the strongest incentive for a Believer to repent, to speak the truth, to do penance for his sins, and to raise himself Heaven- wards."
It is told about The Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim that he said: He who dies on a sickbed, dies the death of a martyr and is secure against the inquisition of the tomb. His food descends upon him with the sustenance of Heaven. So says Ibn Maja.
Abu Hurairah and Abu Sa'id radhi Allahu ‘anhumma said: The Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim said: A Believer will suffer no sickness nor fatigue nor indisposition nor even sorrow to cause him anxiety nor a thorn to pierce skin without that Allah will forgive him his sins by these means. This was extracted by al-Bukhari and Muslim.
It is related of The Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim that he said: Verily a Believer should not fear sickness; for if he knew what he derives from sickness, he would desire to be sick even to death. This tradition is told by al-Zair. Said the Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim: The greater number of my witnesses are the people of the bed. As for those who died in the battle at Safin Allah alone knows what was in their heart. This is related by Ibn Abi Shabayba.
A tradition says that Jabir said: Fever takes away sin from the Children of Adam just as bellows remove dross from iron. Abu Hurairah Radhi Allahu ‘anhu adds that The Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim also said: To whom Allah intends a blessing, He will make him partake of it. This is related by al-Bukhari.
Said 'Ayesha: I have seen no one in greater pain than I have seen The Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim. Al-Bukhari reports this saying. Said The Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim: The people who meet with severe pain are The Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim s of Allah, the devout and the very best of men. A man is afflicted in pro- portion to his love of the Faith. Affliction does not cease for the devout as long as they walk this Earth and until they are free from sin. This tradition is reported by al-Tirmidhi and it is a fair and sound tradition.
Said the Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim: If Allah loves a people, He will give them affliction. Said the Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim: There is no sickness or pain which a Believer receives that is not a penance for his sins whether it be a thorn which pricks him or a disaster that overwhelms him. Al-Bukhari reports this tradition.
Said the Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim: No Muslim receives any injury without Allah shedding from him his sins, as a tree sheds its leaves. This tradition has been extracted and many more similar ones.
Said the Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim: If there had been naught else for the children of Adam except safety and health, this would have been enough. This saying is reported by Abu Dawud.
Said al-Thawar: I find that my sight has failed me following good health. Is it not enough after an illness to be safe and well?
When Abu 'Abbas was an old man he was once asked how he was. He replied: I am stricken by the disease which is desired by all men.
Said 'Umru bin Qamayt: My back never became weak from standing, only from the passing of days, day and night. Greedily did I ask Allah for health and He gave me safety. Hence came the saying: 0 My worshipper, good health forms a link between you and your self, while sickness makes a link between you and Me.
A man should indeed pray Allah for good health. But if Allah bestows sickness, it should be received with patience, with resignation and with thankfulness.
Said al-Harith ul-Majasi: Affliction is for trouble-makers a punishment, for those turning to Allah a penance, and for the pure in heart a mark of honor. Said the Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim: Visit the sick and set free those held in bondage. This was related by al-Bukhari.
Said the Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim: He who visits the sick or visits his brother in religion, his virtue will be proclaimed, his behavior will be applauded, and a high place in Heaven will be assigned to him. This tradition was related by al-Tirmidhi.
Said the Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim: A visit to a sick man is only complete when one of you has put his hand upon his forehead and enquired how he is. This tradition is related by al-Tirmidhi. According to another version the visitor will place his hand upon the sick man and will say: How have you passed the night? Or: How have you passed the day?
According to Anas The Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim used to visit a sick man only after the third day of his illness. Ibn Maja relates this. Said the Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim: Whenever you enter the house of a sick man, talk to him about his predestined end. This too is related by Ibn Maja.
Said the Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim: A visitor to a sick man is one standing on the high road to Heaven. This is related by al-Bukhari. The Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim, whenever he entered the house of a sick man was in the habit of placing his hand upon him and saying: Well and good: let there be a purifying, if Allah wills. This is related by al-Bukhari.
According to Abu Hurairah Radhi Allahu ‘anhu, the Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim with mentions the exception of three cases in which the sick should not be visited, those suffering from ophthalmia, from deafness, and from boils.
The Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim said to 'Umar: If you go into the room of a sick man, beg him to pray to Allah for you. For the prayer of a sick man is like to the prayer of the angels.
Said the Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim If you enter the house of a sick man, speak only good words. For verily the angels confirm what you say and open to him the road to Heaven.
Said the Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim: Whoever visits a sick man whose predestined hour has not yet come and says seven times: I beg Allah the Great, the Lord of the Mighty Throne, that He cure you, then indeed Allah will restore him to health. It was the habit of The Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim whenever he visited the sick or if a sick man was brought to him, to say: O Thou Allah of the People, drive away all harm and cure the cure which leaves no sickness, which leaves behind no trace of disease. Then the sick man should read to himself the opening chapter of the Quran and should say the verse: Say, He Allah is One (Quran II2.I), and finally the last two chapters. Then he will blow upon his hands and rub his face. This was shown in the book called Al-Sahih to be the practice of The Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim.
The sick man, too, should pray the prayer of despair which runs: There is no Allah but Allah the Great, the Clement: There is no Allah but Allah, the Lord of the Great Throne: there is no Allah but Allah, the Lord of the Heavens and of the Earth and the Lord of the Throne of Mercy.
It is fitting for the sick man also to say: Indeed my pain is great. The Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim used to say: O my head, O my head. The sick man should show neither fear nor displeasure and should say: Thanks be to Allah, before he begins to voice his complaints. Then they will cease to be complaints. It is quite proper for the relatives of the sick man to ask his physician about him.
Whenever 'Ali used to go out from the presence of The Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim when he was ill, people used to enquire of him and he used to reply: He has passed a good night and is well, thanks be to Allah.
It is improper for a sick man to desire death; but if he fears to lose his faith, then it is permitted.
Said 'Ayesha: I saw The Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim at the hour when death was near. Beside him was a cup of water. He put his hand into the cup and rubbed his face. Then he said: O Allah, help me against the anguish of death and its agonies. She also added that he said: O Allah, forgive me and have mercy upon me and call me to join the life on high. This is a generally agreed tradition.
Said Shaykh Muhyi-ul-Din in his book called Kitab-ul-Adhkara: It is desirable for one who despairs of life to engage much in reading the Quran and in the remembrance of Allah. It is most improper for him to be afraid or ill-tempered or quarrelsome or abusive or offensive in any matter other than religion. He should remember that these are the last hours of his life in this World. He should strive to finish it well and aim at fulfilling all his obligations, return his securities and pay off his debts. He should forgive his relatives, his sons, his slaves, his neighbors and friends, and those with whom he has had business relations. He should be thankful to Almighty Allah with resignation and with good thoughts towards Him, that He may have mercy upon him and forgive him. And so Allah will allow him to escape from his due punishment and from the worship still owing.
Then the sick man should ask Allah for forgiveness and pardon. He should cause to be read to him verses full of hope and sayings full of confidence and the stories of holy men. He should make disposition of the affairs of his children. He should call to memory the words of various prayers and should avoid all baser things. Particularly should he beware of failing in this, for the worst possible thing is to end the life in this world forgetful of the rights of Allah. He should not harken to the words of one who deceives him in this matter. For such a man may indeed approach him.
It is desirable for a dying man to beg his relatives to be patient with him in his sickness and to bear their distress with patience. He should strive to recommend them to desist from weeping over him. And he should remind them of the veritable saying of the Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim who once said: The dead receive punishment as much as is the weeping of the relatives over them. So the sick man will say: O my dear friends, please refrain from doing what will bring punishment upon me. And they for their part should grant his request. He should also recommend them to avoid raising their voices when reading the Quran and when performing other of the funeral ceremonies.
When the sick man is drawing his last breath, he should repeat over and over again: Laa ilaha ill Allah (There is nothing worthy of worship except Allah). And he should say to the by-standers: If I become neglectful of this, pray recall me to it. Verily the Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim said: Whosoever makes his last words: There is no Allah but Allah, such a person will surely enter Heaven. This tradition is reported by Abu Dawud.
The Prophet Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim also said: Teach your dying people to say: Laa ilaha ill Allah (There is nothing worthy of worship except Allah). This is reported by Muslim.
If a dying man fails to say these words, let one of those present teach him very gently in fear lest he become impatient and abandon it. And if he say it but once, do not force it upon him again unless different words are to be used. An incorrect statement should not be contradicted lest perhaps the dying man die while he is being corrected.
When the eyes of the dying man close, say: Bismillah wa 'alaa milliti Rasulullah (In the Name of Allah and on the Religion of the Messenger of Allah), speak nought but good words, for the angels will confirm all that is said. Tradition relates that al-Ansari used to recite the Chapter of the Cow (Suran A Barqara) in the presence of a dying man. Another tradition says that the Chapter Yasin used to be recited over the dying. This was related by Abu Dawuid.
Something made of iron should be placed upon the abdomen of the dying man. When 'Umar bin Khattab was at his last moment he said to his son: Place my cheek upon the ground. Then he wept until the mud stuck to his eyes from the great quantity of his tears. And all this time he was saying: Woe to 'Umr and woe to his mother if Allah will not overlook his sins. In another version of this story 'Umar wept and made all around him weep.
And this is what he said as he was tasting Mawt: All possessions belonging to me upon whom the sun will not rise again, all these would I give to avoid the fear of this rising. And he said to his sons: When you put me into my grave, then place my cheek upon the earth in such a manner that there may be nothing between my cheek and the earth. And he said to Hafsa, his daughter: Swear by your inheritance from me that you will make no mourning over me. But as for your eyes over them there is no mastery. For verily no man is mourned for virtues that he never possessed without incurring the hate of the angels.
After he passed away the holy man was seen in a dream. He was asked: What has happened to you? To which he replied: All is well. My bier was nigh to descending into Hell had I not found my Lord merciful and forgiving.
Said 'Umar bin 'Abd-ul-'Aziz on his death bed: I do not like the pangs of death to be eased, for they are the last chance for a Muslim to gain a reward. He was seen in a dream and was asked what deeds he found most excellent. He replied: Petitions for forgiveness.
Said Ibn Mu'az when death drew near: Welcome, O Death, invisible visitor. My friend, you have come at my moment of need. O Allah, how I used to fear You. But now I ask for mercy.
A well-known person said during the illness from which he passed away : When I die, give my garments away. For naked I came into the World and naked I wish to leave it.
Said Abu Bakr: I was with al-Junayd when he died. He read through the whole Quran and then started again from the Chapter of the Cow (Al Baqara). He had got as far as verse 70 when he tasted Mawt. May Allah Almighty have mercy upon him.
