22/03/2018
ZIARAH
Visiting the Sick (Ziyara Al-Marid), is one of the most rewarding tasks as you will be visiting Muslims at their homes and hospitals when ill or injured. Some scholars considered it an obligation (fard), while others labeled it emphasized tradition (sunnah mu’akadah)
Visiting the ill today is a revival of the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet as it illustrates empathy among Muslims, a demonstration of love that is a required component of faith. Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, said:
“The parable of the Believers in their mutual love and mercy is like that of a living body: if one part feels pain, the whole body suffers in sleeplessness and fever.”
The Duty of Visiting The Sick:
Almighty God explained (in Hadith Qudsi) the importance of and greatness of the reward of visiting the sick. The Prophet said:
“On the Day of Resurrection, God the Mighty and Majestic will say: ‘O child of Adam! I became sick and you did not visit me!’ The person will say, ‘O Lord, how can I visit you and you are the Lord of all that Exists!’ God will say, ‘Did you not know that my slave ‘so and so’ became sick, and you did not visit him? Did you not know that if you visited him, you would have found me with him?’” (Sahih Muslim)
“The rights of one Muslim over another Muslim are six… When you meet, you greet with the salaam (i.e. to say: “As-Salamu alaykum”), when invited, you respond to the invitation, when asked to give consults in a matter, you give sincere advice, when sneezes and praises God, in return you ask God to have mercy on him/her, when sick, you visit, and when he/she passes away you accompany the funeral procession.
