Chapter 145
Supplication for the Sick

901. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: When a person complained to the Prophet (PBUH) about an ailment or suffered from a sore or a wound, the Prophet (PBUH) would touch the ground with his forefinger and then raise it (Sufyan bin `Uyainah, the narrator, demonstrated this with his forefinger) and would recite: `Bismil-lahi, turbatu ardina, biriqati ba`dina, yushfa bihi saqimuni, bi 'idhni Rabbina' (With the Name of Allah, the dust of our ground mixed with the saliva of some of us would cure our patient with the permission of our Rubb.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary: The Prophet (PBUH) would put his forefinger on earth and then mix his spittle with the dust sticking to it. Afterwards, he would put it on the patient's pain-spot or wound and utter the said supplication. This simple act would cure the patient. Some believe that it was peculiar only to the Prophet (PBUH) and was indeed his miracle because the particular dust was of Al-Madinah's soil with the Prophet's spittle being of a unique quality. But Ibn Hajar differs from this view. Spittle and dust, according to him, are simply external means and the curative effect in them comes from Allah Alone. Secondly, we may turn to the pious people to seek their blessings and prayers for the removal of our ailments and troubles, provided the spiritual treatment is bereft of amulets and other polytheistic ways.

902. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: When the Prophet (PBUH) visited any ailing member of his family, he would touch the sick person with his right hand and would supplicate: "Allahumma Rabban-nasi, adhhibil-ba'sa, washfi, Antash-Shafi, la shifa'a illa shifa'uka, shifaan la yughadiru saqaman [O Allah! the Rubb of mankind! Remove this disease and cure (him or her)! You are the Great Curer. There is no cure but through You, which leaves behind no disease].''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary: The word "Ya`udu'' (enquired about the patient's health or visited) occurs in the Hadith text quoted by Imam An-Nawawi. But according to Al-Bukhari, this word is "Yuawwidu'' which, says Ibn Hajar, is synonymous to the word "Yarqee'' (blew over the patient).

903. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I said to Thabit (May Allah had Mercy upon him) Should I not perform Ruqyah (i.e., recite supplication or Quranic Ayat and blow) over you, such supplication as was practised by the Messenger of Allah (PBUH)?'' He said: "Please do so.'' Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) supplicated: "Allahumma Rabban-nasi, mudh-hibal-ba'si, ishfi Antash-Shafi, la shafiya illa Anta, shifa'an la yughadiru saqaman [O Allah! the Rubb of mankind! Take away this disease and cure (him or her). You are the Curer. There is no cure except through You. Cure (him or her), a cure that leaves no disease].''
[Al-Bukhari].

Commentary: The said Hadith testifies that the Prophet (PBUH) and the Companions had certainly `blown over' the patients. There is no doubt about that. Yet, the act of blowing over must be based on the Names and Attributes of Allah and the Prophetic prayers or on Qur'anic Surat and Ayat. Besides, one should have the firm belief that the secondary causes cannot yield the desired effect unless Allah wills so.

904. Sa`d bin Abu Waqqas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) visited me during my illness and supplicated, "O Allah! Cure Sa`d. O Allah! Cure Sa`d. O' Allah! Cure Sa`d.''
[Muslim].

Commentary: To pray for the health and recovery of the patient, particularly uttering his name, is commendable. Furthermore, one should repeatedly pray to Allah and beseech Him with supplication till He responds.

905. Abu `Abdullah bin Abul-`as (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I complained to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) about a pain I had in my body. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Place your hand where you feel pain and say: `Bismillah (With the Name of Allah)' three times; and then repeat seven times: `A`udhu bi`izzatillahi wa qudratihi min sharri ma ajidu wa `uhadhiru (I seek refuge with Allah and with His Power from the evil that afflicts me and that which I apprehend).'''
[Muslim].

Commentary: This Hadith tells us it is not necessary that a patient should exclusively get Ruqyah from others; rather he can also do Ruqyah himself by reciting the Prophet's supplications.

906. Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "He who visits a sick person who is not on the point of death and supplicates seven times: As'alullahal-`Azima Rabbal-`Arshil-`Azimi, an yashfiyaka (I beseech Allah the Great, the Rubb of the Great Throne, to heal you), Allah will certainly heal him from that sickness.''
[Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].

Commentary: There is always a great certainty that Allah will respond to a supplication which springs from a sincere, veracious heart. One should, therefore, pray for a patient with full conviction and reassurance of heart. Moreover, the Prophet's prayers have special effect and grace and therefore their original wordings should be uttered.

907. Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) visited a bedouin who was sick. Whenever he visited an ailing person, he would say, "La ba'sa, tahurun in sha' Allah [No harm, (it will be a) purification (from sins), if Allah wills].''
[Al-Bukhari].

Commentary: According to this Hadith, a patient should be told that his disease will purge out his sins. To sit beside the sick, to comfort his heart and to say a few words of sympathy to him was the Prophet's practice.

908. Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Jibril (Gabriel) came to the Prophet (PBUH) and said: "O Muhammad (PBUH)! Do you feel sick?'' He (PBUH) said, "Yes.'' Jibril supplicated thus (i.e., he performed Ruqyah): "Bismillahi arqika, min kulli shay'in yu'dhika, min sharri kulli nafsin aw `ayni hasidi, Allahu yashfika, bismillahi arqika. [With the Name of Allah. I recite over you (to cleanse you) from all that troubles you, and from every harmful mischief and from the evil of the eyes of an envier. Allah will cure you; and with the Name of Allah, I recite over you].''
[Muslim].

Commentary: This Hadith clearly tells us that the Prophet (PBUH) was not free from the basic attributes of human nature and occasionally he also fell ill. Angel Jibril (Gabriel) therefore prayed for his health and safety against all those things which could harm him. These prayers should be recited after the Prophet's practice.

909. Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri and Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "If a person says: `La ilaha illallahu wallahu Akbar (There is no true god except Allah and Allah is Greatest)', his Rubb responds to him and affirms: `(Yes!) There is no true god except I, and I am the Greatest.' When he says: `La ilaha illallahu Wahdahu la sharika Lahu (There is no true god except Allah, the One, He has no partner).' Allah (SWT) affirms: `(Yes!) There is no true god except I. I have no partner.' When he says: `La ilaha illallahu Lahul mulku wa Lahul-hamdu (the sovereignty belongs to Him and all the praise is due to Him).' He (SWT) affirms: `(Yes!) There is no true god except I, Mine is the praise and to Me belongs the sovereignty.' When he says: `La ilaha illallahu wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa Billah (There is no true god except Allah, and there is no might and power but with Allah).' He (SWT) affirms: `(Yes!) There is no true god except I, and there is no might and power but with Me.''' The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) added, "He who recites this during his illness and dies, will not be touched by the Fire (Hell).''
[At-Tirmidhu].

Commentary: This Hadith points out the excellence of the words mentioned above. This is so because of great meaning they have, namely the firm belief in Allah, His Oneness and Glorification; that to Him Alone we should return, upon Him Alone we should rely, and to Him Alone we should express gratefulness. If somebody utters them during his illness, his life is sure to come to an end in a good way, that is, he will go to Jannah.