NASFAT WEEKLY SERMON FOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 10 2020
TOPIC:SICKNESS AND PATIENT TENDING
We seek refuge in the Almighty Allah from Shaytan. In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. May His peace and salutations be forever showered on our prophet Muhammad (SAW), members of his family and the companions.
One of the challenges human beings will face in this worldly life is sickness and it has caused some Muslims their faith. In our sermon this week, we would be looking at sickness and patient tending.
Sickness can be seen as to be indisposed and infirm after having been healthy and patient tending is attending to patient by services or care, and looking after him. It includes paying visits to the sick. The etiquette of paying a visit to a patient or the sick in Islam may ordinarily include:
Not staying too long with the sick unless the visitor knows for sure that the patient is not inconvenienced and that he is pleased with his staying.
Praying for the recovery of the sick and boosting his morale.
Asking the patient about his health and assure him of his immediate recovery.
Advising him to be patient with the disease or ailment and reminding him of Allah’s reward for patience.
Asking the sick person to pray for the visitor as his prayer is said to be favourably answered by Allah.
Relevant Quran verses include: 2:183-184 O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become righteous. For a specified number of days. But whoever among you is sick, or on a journey, then a number of other days. For those who are able: a ransom of feeding a needy person. But whoever volunteers goodness, it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew.;4:43 O you who believe! Do not approach the prayer while you are drunk, so that you know what you say; nor after sexual orgasm—unless you are travelling—until you have bathed. If you are sick, or traveling, or one of you comes from the toilet, or you have had intercourse with women, and cannot find water, find clean sand and wipe your faces and your hands with it. Allah is Pardoning and Forgiving.;9:91 There is no blame on the weak, nor on the sick, nor on those who have nothing to give, provided they are true to Allah and His Messenger. In no way can the righteous be blamed. Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. and 26:80 And when I get sick, He heals me.
The Prophet in some relevant ahadith was quoted to have said the following which include:
According to Abu Hurayrah (RTA), the messenger of Allah (SAW) A Muslim owes a Muslim five duties: to answer his greetings, to visit the sick, to attend funerals, to answer invitations and to pray blessings and recovery for anyone who sneezes. According to Al Baraa Ibn ‘Aazeeb (RTA), the Messenger of Allah (SAW) ordered to:visit the sick, attend the funerals, ask blessings and recovery for any one who sneezes,to honour the oath of one who swears for something to be done; to help the injusticed; to answer invitations and to propagate greetings.
According to Musa(RTA), the messenger (SAW) said: visit the sick, feed the hungry and ransom the captive.
According to Abu Hurayrah (RTA), the messenger of Allah (SAW) said Allah (SWT) will say on the Day of Resurrection: “O Son of Adam! I was sick and you did not tend to me! And the man would say: O my Lord! How can I tend to You and You are the Lord of the world of the worlds?” He would answer: Didn’t you know that My bondman x was sick but you did not visit him? Didn’t you know that had you visited him you would have found Me there?”
There is no doubt that good and sound health is important to all we do in life. This can be seen in the fact that with good health we become more productive, more energetic, more emotionally stable, looking better and moire confident. The need to maintaining our health with eating good things, drinking good things, and not living our lives in ways that will be detrimental to our health cannot be overemphasized.
In order to underscore the need for good health, it is important to mention that the Qur’an taught us a variety of prayers for good health and Prophet Muhammad also taught us a lot of prayers that are said for good health.
Those mentioned in the Qur’an including suratul faatihat and the six verses of shifa (9:14,10:57,16:69,17:82,26:80 and 41:44)
Those mentioned in the ahadith to include ruqyah prayers
Use of honey,zamzam water,black seeds and its oil,olive seeds and its oil, etc
It would be necessary to conclude that good health is one of the various forms of Allah’s favour on us and on the Day of resurrection we will be questioned about how we used.
May Allah heal those who are sick amongst us and help us to maintain a sound health.
UTHMAN ADEKUNLE ANIMASHAUN
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