Book Seventy– The Book on Patients

Hadith Number 544.

Narrated by 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha): (The wife of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam)) Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "No calamity befalls a Muslim but that Allah expiates some of his sins because of it, even though it were the prick he receives from a thorn."


Hadith Number 545.

Narrated by Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri and Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that."


Hadith Number 546.

Narrated by Ka'b (Radhi Allahu Anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "The example of a believer is that of a fresh tender plant, which the wind bends it sometimes and some other time it makes it straight. And the example of a hypocrite is that of a pine tree which keeps straight till once it is uprooted suddenly.


Hadith Number 547.

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu): Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "The example of a believer is that of a fresh tender plant; from whatever direction the wind comes, it bends it, but when the wind becomes quiet, it becomes straight again. Similarly, a believer is afflicted with calamities (but he remains patient till Allah removes his difficulties.) And an impious wicked person is like a pine tree which keeps hard and straight till Allah cuts (breaks) it down when He wishes." (See Hadith No. 558, Book 93)


Hadith Number 548.

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu): Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "If Allah wants to do good to somebody, He afflicts him with trials."


Hadith Number 549.

Narrated by 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha): I never saw anybody suffering so much from sickness as Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam).


Hadith Number 550.

Narrated by 'Abdullah (Radhi Allahu Anhu): I visited the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) during his ailments and he was suffering from a high fever. I said, "You have a high fever. Is it because you will have a double reward for it?" He said, "Yes, for no Muslim is afflicted with any harm but that Allah will remove his sins as the leaves of a tree fall down."


Hadith Number 551.

Narrated by 'Abdullah (Radhi Allahu Anhu): I visited Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) while he was suffering from a high fever. I said, "O Allah's Messenger! You have a high fever." He said, "Yes, I have as much fever as two men of you." I said, "Is it because you will have a double reward?" He said, "Yes, it is so. No Muslim is afflicted with any harm, even if it were the prick of a thorn, but that Allah expiates his sins because of that, as a tree sheds its leaves."

Hadith Number 552.


Narrated by Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari (Radhi Allahu Anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Feed the hungry, visit the sick, and set free the captives."


Hadith Number 553.

Narrated by Al-Bara bin Azib (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) ordered us to do seven things and forbade us to do seven other things. He forbade us to wear gold rings, silk, Dibaj, Istabriq, Qissy, and Maithara; (*) and ordered us to accompany funeral processions, visit the sick and greet everybody. (See Hadith No. 104 Book 62)

* Dibaj, Istabraq and Qissiy are different kinds of silk; Maithara is a kind of cushion.


Hadith Number 554.

Narrated by Jabir bin 'Abdullah (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): Once I fell ill. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) and Abu Bakr (Radhi Allahu Anhu) came walking to pay me a visit and found me unconscious. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) performed ablution and then poured the remaining water on me, and I came to my senses to see the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam). I said, "O Allah's Messenger! What shall I do with my property? How shall I dispose of (distribute) my property?" He did not reply till the Verse of inheritance was revealed.


Hadith Number 555.

Narrated by 'Ata bin Abi Rabah: Ibn 'Abbas (Radhi Allahu Anhuma) said to me, "Shall I show you a woman of the people of Paradise?" I said, "Yes." He said, "This black lady came to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) and said, 'I get attacks of epilepsy and my body becomes uncovered; please invoke Allah for me.' The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said (to her), 'If you wish, be patient and you will have (enter) Paradise; and if you wish, I will invoke Allah to cure you.' She said, 'I will remain patient,' and added, 'but I become uncovered, so please invoke Allah for me that I may not become uncovered.' So he invoked Allah for her."


Hadith Number 556.

Narrated by 'Ata: That he had seen Um Zafar, the tall black lady, at (holding) the curtain of the Ka'bah.


Hadith Number 557.

Narrated by Anas bin Malik (Radhi Allahu Anhu): I heard Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) saying, "Allah said, 'If I deprive my slave of his two beloved things (i.e., his eyes) and he remains patient, I will let him enter Paradise in compensation for them.'"


Hadith Number 558.

Narrated by 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha): When Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) emigrated to Al-Madinah, Abu Bakr and Bilal (Radhi Allahu Anhuma) got a fever. I entered upon them and asked, "O my father! How are you? O Bilal! How are you?" Whenever fever attacked Abu Bakr, he would recite the following poetic verses: 'Everybody is staying alive among his people, yet death is nearer to him than his shoe laces." And whenever the fever deserted Bilal, he would recite (two poetic lines): 'Would that I could stay overnight in a valley wherein I would be surrounded by Idhkhir and Jalil (two kinds of good smelling grass). Would that one day I would drink of the water of Majinna and would that Shama and Tafil (two mountains at Makkah) would appear to me.' Then I came and informed Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) about that, whereupon he said, "O Allah! Make us love Al-Madinah as much or more than we love Makkah. O Allah! Make it healthy and bless its Mudd and Sa for us, and take away its fever and put it in Al'Juhfa."


Hadith Number 559.

Narrated by Abu 'Uthman: Usama bin Zaid (Radhi Allahu Anhuma) said that while he, Sa'd and Ubai bin Ka'b were with the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) a daughter of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) sent a message to him, saying. 'My daughter is dying; please come to us." The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) sent her his greetings and added "It is for Allah what He takes, and what He gives; and everything before His sight has a limited period. So she should hope for Allah's reward and remain patient." She again sent a message, beseeching him by Allah, to come. So the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) got up and so did we (and went there). The child was placed on his lap while his breath was irregular. Tears flowed from the eyes of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam). Sa'd said to him, "What is this, O Allah's Messenger?" He said. "This Is Mercy which Allah has embedded in the hearts of whomever He wished of His slaves. And Allah does not bestow His Mercy, except on the merciful among His slaves. (See Hadith No. 373 Book 23)

Hadith Number 560.

Narrated by Ibn Abbas (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) went to visit a sick bedouin. Whenever the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) went to a patient, he used to say to him, "Don't worry, if Allah will, it will be expiation (for your sins):" The bedouin said, "You say expiation? No, it is but a fever that is boiling or harassing an old man and will lead him to his grave without his will." The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Then, yes, it is so."


Hadith Number 561.

Narrated by Anas (Radhi Allahu Anhu): A Jewish boy used to serve the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) and became ill. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) went to pay him a visit and said to him, "Embrace Islam," and he did embrace Islam. Al-Musaiyab said: When Abu Talib was on his deathbed, the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) visited him.


Hadith Number 562.

Narrated by 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha): During the ailment of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) some people came to visits him. He led them in prayer while sitting. but they prayed standing, so he waved to them to sit down. When he had finished the prayer, he said, "An Imam is to be followed, so when he bows, you should bow and when he raises his head, you should raise yours, and if he prays sitting you should pray sitting." Abu Abdullah said Al-Humaidi said, (The order of) "This narration has been abrogated by the last action of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) as he led the prayer sitting, while the people prayed standing behind him."


Hadith Number 563.

Narrated by Sa'd (Radhi Allahu Anhu): I became seriously ill at Makkah and the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) came to visit me. I said, "O Allah's Messenger! I shall leave behind me a good fortune, but my heir is my only daughter; shall I bequeath two third of my property to be spent in charity and leave one third (for my heir)?" He said, "No." I said, "Shall I bequeath half and leave half?" He said, "No." I said, "Shall I bequeath one third and leave two thirds?" He said, "One third is alright, though even one third is too much." Then he placed his hand on his forehead and passed it over my face and abdomen and said, "O Allah! Cure Sa'd and complete his emigration." (*) I feel as if I have been feeling the coldness of his hand on my liver ever since.

* To complete his emigration means to let him return to Al-Madinah and die there rather than in Makkah whence he had migrated.


Hadith Number 564.

Narrated by 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud (Radhi Allahu Anhu): I visited Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) while he was suffering from a high fever. I touched him with my hand and said, "O Allah's Messenger! You have a high fever." Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Yes, I have as much fever as two men of you have." I said, "Is it because you will get a double reward?" Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Yes, no Muslim is afflicted with harm because of sickness or some other inconvenience, but that Allah will remove his sins for him as a tree sheds its leaves."


Hadith Number 565.

Narrated by 'Abdullah (Radhi Allahu Anhu): I visited the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) during his illness and touched him while he was having a fever. I said to him, "You have a high fever; is it because you will get a double reward?" He said, "Yes. No Muslim is afflicted with any harm, but that his sins will be annulled as the leave of a tree fall down."


Hadith Number 566.

Narrated by Ibn 'Abbas (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) entered upon sick man to pay him a visit, and said to him, "Don't worry, Allah willing, (your sickness will be) an expiation for your sins." The man said, "No, it is but a fever that is boiling within an old man and will send him to his grave." On that, the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Then yes, it is so."


Hadith Number 567.

Narrated by Usama bin Zaid (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) rode a donkey having a saddle with a Fadakiyya velvet covering. He mounted me behind him and went to visit Sad bin 'Ubada, and that had been before the battle of Badr. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) proceeded till he passed by a gathering in which 'Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul was present, and that had been before 'Abdullah embraced Islam. The gathering comprised of Muslims, polytheists, i.e., isolators and Jews. 'Abdullah bin Rawaha was also present in that gathering. When dust raised by the donkey covered the gathering, 'Abdullah bin Ubai covered his nose with his upper garment and said, "Do not trouble us with dust." The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) greeted them, stopped and dismounted. Then he invited them to Allah (i.e., to embrace Islam) and recited to them some verses of the Holy Qur'an. On that, 'Abdullah bin Ubai said, "O man ! There is nothing better than what you say if it is true. Do not trouble us with it in our gathering, but return to your house, and if somebody comes to you, teach him there." On that 'Abdullah bin Rawaha said, Yes, O Allah's Messenger! Bring your teachings to our gathering, for we love that." So the Muslims, the pagans and the Jews started abusing each other till they were about to fight. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) kept on quietening them till they became calm. Thereupon the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) mounted his animal and proceeded till he entered upon Sad bin Ubada. He said to him "O S'ad! Have you not heard what Abu Hubab (i.e., 'Abdullah bin Ubai) said?" Sa'd said, 'O Allah's Messenger! Excuse and forgive him, for Allah has given you what He has given you. The people of this town (Al-Madinah decided unanimously to crown him and make him their chief by placing a turban on his head, but when that was prevented by the Truth which Allah had given you he ('Abdullah bin Ubai) was grieved out of jealously, and that was the reason which caused him to behave in the way you have seen."


Hadith Number 568.

Narrated by Jabir (Radhi Allahu Anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) came to visit me (while I was sick) and he was riding neither a mule, nor a horse.


Hadith Number 569.

Narrated by Ka'b bin 'Ujara (Radhi Allahu Anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) passed by me while I was kindling a fire under a (cooking) pot. He said, "Do the lice of your head trouble you?" I said, "Yes." So he called a barber to shave my head and ordered me to make expiation for that." (*)

* Ka'b was in a state of Ihram.

Hadith Number 570.

Narrated by Al-Qasim bin Muhammad: 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha), (complaining of headache) said, "Oh, my head"! Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "I wish that had happened while I was still living, for then I would ask Allah's Forgiveness for you and invoke Allah for you." (*) 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha) said, "Wa thuklayah! (**) By Allah, I think you want me to die; and if this should happen, you would spend the last part of the day sleeping with one of your wives!" The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Nay, I should say, 'Oh my head!' I felt like sending for Abu Bakr and his son, and appoint him as my successor lest some people claimed something or some others wished something, but then I said (to myself), 'Allah would not allow it to be otherwise, and the Muslims would prevent it to be otherwise".

* The Prophet(Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) wished that he would survive her so that he might invoke Allah for her.

**An exclamation, meaning: "Alas I have lost my son!" The literal meaning is not meant here; it only expresses the distress and discomfort of the speaker.


Hadith Number 571.

Narrated by Ibn Mas'ud (Radhi Allahu Anhu): I visited the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) while he was having a high fever. I touched him and said, "You have a very high fever" He said, "Yes, as much fever as two me of you may have." I said. "you will have a double reward?" He said, "Yes No Muslim is afflicted with hurt caused by disease or some other inconvenience, but that Allah will remove his sins as a tree sheds its leaves."


Hadith Number 572.

Narrated by Sa'd (Radhi Allahu Anhu): Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) came to visit me during my ailment which had been aggravated during Hajjat-al-Wada'. I said to him, "You see how sick I am. I have much property but have no heir except my only daughter May I give two thirds of my property in charity?"! He said, "No." I said, "Half of it?" He said, "No." I said "One third?" He said, "One third is too much, for to leave your heirs rich is better than to leave them poor, begging of others. Nothing you spend seeking Allah's pleasure but you shall get a reward for it, even for what you put in the mouth of your wife."


Hadith Number 573.

Narrated by Ibn 'Abbas (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): When Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) was on his death-bed and in the house there were some people among whom was 'Umar bin Al-Khattab (Radhi Allahu Anhu), the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Come, let me write for you a statement after which you will not go astray." 'Umar said, "The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) is seriously ill and you have the Qur'an; so the Book of Allah is enough for us." The people present in the house differed and quarreled. Some said "Go near so that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) may write for you a statement after which you will not go astray," while the others said as Umar said. When they caused a hue and cry before the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam), Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Go away!" Narrated 'Ubaidullah: Ibn 'Abbas used to say, "It was very unfortunate that Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) was prevented from writing that statement for them because of their disagreement and noise."


Hadith Number 574.

Narrated by As-Sa'ib: My aunt took me to Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) and said, "O Allah's Messenger! My nephew is ill." The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) touched my head with his hand and invoked Allah to bless me. He then performed ablution and I drank of the remaining water of his ablution and then stood behind his back and saw "Khatam An-Nubuwwa" (The Seal of Prophethood) between his shoulders like a button of a tent.


Hadith Number 575.

Narrated by Anas bin Malik (Radhi Allahu Anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "None of you should wish for death because of a calamity befalling him; but if he has to wish for death, he should say: "O Allah! Keep me alive as long as life is better for me, and let me die if death is better for me.'"


Hadith Number 576.

Narrated by Qais bin Abi Hazim: We went to pay a visit to Khabbab (who was sick) and he had been branded (cauterized) at seven places in his body. He said, "Our companions who died (during the lifetime of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam)) left (this world) without having their rewards reduced through enjoying the pleasures of this life, but we have got (so much) wealth that we find no way to spend it except on the construction of buildings. Had the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) not forbidden us to wish for death, I would have wished for it.' We visited him for the second time while he was building a wall. He said, A Muslim is rewarded (in the Hereafter) for whatever he spends except for something that he spends on building." (*)

* If he spends too much needlessly.

Hadith Number 577.

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu): I heard Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) saying, "The good deeds of any person will not make him enter Paradise." (i.e., None can enter Paradise through his good deeds.) They (the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam)'s companions) said, 'Not even you, O Allah's Messenger?' He said, "Not even myself, unless Allah bestows His Favor and Mercy on me." So be moderate in your religious deeds and do the deeds that are within your ability: and none of you should wish for death, for if he is a good doer, he may increase his good deeds, and if he is an evil doer, he may repent to Allah."


Hadith Number 578.

Narrated by 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha): I heard the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam), who was resting against me, saying, "O Allah! Excuse me and bestow Your Mercy on me and let me join with the highest companions (in Paradise)." See Qur'an (Surah An-Nisa' 4: 69)


Hadith Number 579.

Narrated by 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha): Whenever Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) paid a visit to a patient, or a patient was brought to him, he used to invoke Allah, saying, "Take away the disease, O the Lord of the people! Cure him as You are the One Who cures. There is no cure but Yours, a cure that leaves no disease."


Hadith Number 580.

Narrated by Jabir bin Abdullah (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) came to me while I was ill. He performed ablution and threw the remaining water on me (or said, "Pour it on him) "When I came to my senses I said, "O Allah's Messenger! I have no son or father to be my heir, so how will be my inheritance?" Then the Verse of inheritance was revealed.


Hadith Number 581.

Narrated by 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha): When Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) emigrated to Al-Madinah, Abu Bakr and Bilal (Radhi Allahu Anhuma) had a fever. I entered upon them and said, "O my father! How are you? O Bilal! How are you?" Whenever Abu Bakr got the fever he used to say, "Everybody is staying alive with his people, yet death is nearer to him than his shoe laces." And when fever deserted Bilal, he would recite (two poetic verses): "Would that I could stay overnight in a valley wherein I would be surrounded by Idhkhir and Jalil (two kinds of good smelling grass). Would that one day I could drink of the water of Majinna, and would that Shama and Tafil (two mountains at Makkah) would appear to me!" I went to Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) and informed him about that. He said, "O Allah! Make us love Al-Madinah as much or more than we love Makkah, and make it healthy, and bless its Sa' and its Mudd, and take away its fever and put it in Al-Juhfa." (See Hadith No 558).