In His Name the Most High

The Manners of Visiting the Sick

Visiting the sick person which is emphasized in the teachings of the Ahlulbait (PBUT) helps to bring calm for the sick and lessen his suffering, and this is achieved through showing affection, presenting with gifts and etc.

A follower of Imam Sadiq (PBUH) narrates: “a friend of Imam got sick and we went to visit him. On the way we met with Imam Sadiq (PBUH). Imam asked us “where are you going?”

We answered we are going to visit the man. Imam (PBUH) said “wait.” We stopped, then he said: “do any of you have with yourself some apple or quince or citron, or some perfume or some oud for incense?”

We replied: “we don’t have with ourselves any of these.”

Imam Sadiq (PBUH) said: “don’t you know that the sick relaxes when he is gifted?”

He also stressed that visiting the sick should be short and he used to say: “visiting the sick should take no more than a milking of a camel.”

His other advice was to not to stare at the sick for it would make him aggrieve.

The great Imam (PBUH) as well advised to ask the sick to pray for us during the visit, for his pray is like the pray of the angels.

Yes, a seemingly unimportant custom moves the human toward growth and will help to deepen the social ties between people.

 (Selection from Mafatih al-Hayat by Ayatullah Jawadi Amuli with minor changes)

The Roshd Website congratulates all Muslims, especially you dear friend, on the 17th of Rabi’ al-Awwal, the birth anniversary of Imam Sadiq (PBUH), the source of knowledge, and the manifestation of divine commandment

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