7 Dua For Visiting The Sick in Arabic, Meaning and Hadith
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized the importance of visiting the sick as a fundamental right of a Muslim towards their fellow brother. It is considered a serious neglect and estrangement if Muslims are aware of a brother’s illness and fail to visit them.
Here are some essential etiquettes and dua for visiting the sick, along with their Arabic texts, meanings, and supporting Hadiths.
Dua For Visiting The Sick in Arabic
From the Sunnah is that the visitor places his hand upon the body of the patient at the time when he intends to supplicate for him. You may say (Three times):
اللَّهُمَّ اشْفِ فُلانًا
Transliteration
Allahummash-fi fulan(an)
Meaning
O Allah! Cure So-and-So.
Hadith
In the two Saheehs, it is recorded that when the Prophet (ﷺ) visited Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas RA, he placed his hand on his forehead, then wiped his hand over his face and his stomach.
Then, the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
اللَّهُمَّ اشْفِ سَعْدًا
Allāhum-ma-sh-fi Sa’d(an)
O Allah! Cure Sa’d.
In the narration of Muslim it’s reported the Prophet (ﷺ) said it three times.
Saheeh al-Bukhāree, no. 5659, and Saheeh Muslim
In placing the hand upon the sick person is a means of putting him at ease, a means of coming to know the severity of his sickness or mildness of it, and gentleness towards him.
READ ALSO: Dua Before Eating Meaning, Arabic Text and Hadith
2. Dua Visiting Sick in Arabic
The Prophet visited a sick Bedouin and said to him:
لاَ بَأْسَ طَهُورٌ إِنْ شَاءَ الله
Transliteration
La Ba’sa, Tahoorun, In Sha Allah
Meaning
[This is] not harmful. Rather, it is a means of purification, if Allah Wills.
Hadith
In Saheeh al-Bukhāree, on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbās (رضي الله عنه): who said: the Prophet (ﷺ) entered upon a bedouin to visit him due to his sickness. The narrator said: Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) entered upon a sick person to visit him, he would say:
لاَ بَأْسَ طَهُورٌ إِنْ شَاءَ الله
This sickness is not harmful. Rather, it is a means of purification, if Allāh Wills.
The sick bedouin responded saying: You said that it is a means of purification! No way! Rather, it is a fever boiling up inside an old man, causing him to visit the graves (i.e. causing his death). The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Then, yes (it is as you say).”
[Saheeh al-Bukhāree, no. 3616, 5656]
The saying of the Prophet (ﷺ): ‘it is a means of purification, if Allāh Wills…’ – means: It is a means of purification for you from your sins, i.e. that which purifies you from the evil effects or consequences of your sins.
3. Dua For Visiting The Sick in Arabic
When the Prophet visited the sick, he would sit at their head and say seven times:
أَسْأَلُ الله الْعَظِيمَ، رَبَّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ أَنْ يَشْفِيَكَ
Transliteration
As-‘a-lul-lāhal-‘Adheem, Rabbal-‘Ar-shil-‘A-dheem, an -yash-fi-yak(a).
Dua For Visiting Sick in English
I ask Allah, the Supreme, Lord of the Magnificent Throne, to make you well.
If it was not decreed for the person to die from this illness, he would be cured of his pain.”
It is from the Sunnah that the visitor sits at the head of the sick person. It is recorded in ‘al-Adab al-Mufrad by al-Bukhāree (رحمه الله), on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbās (رضي الله عنه), that he said:
“Whenever the Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ) would visit a sick person, he would sit at his head. Then, he would say the dua seven times.
[Sunan at-Tirmidhee, no. 2083; Sunan Abi Dāwood, no. 3106. al-Albānee declared it to be Sabeeh (authentic) in Saheeh al-Jami’ as-Sagheer, no. 5766.]
4. Dua
The Prophet (ﷺ) used to treat some of his wives by passing his right hand over the place of ailment and used to say:
اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ النَّاسِ أَذْهِبِ الْبَاسَ، اشْفِهِ أَنْتَ الشَّافِي، لاَ شِفَاءَ إِلاَّ شِفَاؤُكَ، شِفَاءً لاَ يُغَادِرُ سَقَمًا
Transliteration
Allāhum-ma Rab-ban-Nas, Adh-hibil-Ba-‘s, Ish-fi-hi, Anta-sh-Sha-fee, La Shi-fa-‘a il-la Shi-fa-‘u-k, Shi-fa-‘an La Yu-gha-di-ru saqaman.
Translation
Oh Allah! Lord of the people! Remove the affliction and cure him. You are the One Who cures and there is no cure except Your cure, a cure that leaves behind no sickness.
[Saheeh al-Bukharee, no. 5743]
5. Dua
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: When a man comes to visit a sick person, he should say:
اللَّهُمَّ اشْفِ عَبْدَكَ يَنْكَأُ لَكَ عَدُوًّا أَوْ يَمْشِي لَكَ إِلَى صَلاَةٍ
Transliteration
Allahummashfi ‘abdaka yanka’u laka ‘aduwwan aw yamshi laka ilas-salah.
Translation in English
O Allah, cure Your servant, who may then injure the enemy for Your sake or walk to the prayer for Your sake.
[Sunan Abi Dawud 3107, See As-Sahihah 1365]
Otherwise, the visitor may perform ruqyah by reciting (over the sick person) the ‘Opening’ chapter of the Qur’an (al-Fatihah), or the three chapters of Qur’an known as al-Mu’awwidhat (Soorah an-Nas (no. 114), soorah al-Falaq (no. 113) and soorah al-Ikhlās (no. 112)).
Ruqyah is a legislated means of seeking a cure, through recitations of Qur’ân or words authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam).
6. Dua
One might also perform ruqyah by reciting:
بِاسْمِ اللَّهِ أَرْقِيكَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ يُؤْذِيكَ مِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ نَفْسٍ أَوْ عَيْنِ حَاسِدٍ اللَّهُ يَشْفِيكَ بِاسْمِ اللَّهِ أَرْقِيكَ
Transliteration
Bismillāhi Arqeek, Min kulli shay’in Yu’dheek, min sharri kulli nafsin aw ‘ainin Hāsidin, Allāhu Yash-feek, Bismillāhi Arqeek.
Meaning in English
In the Name of Allāh I perform ruqyah upon you, from everything which harms you, from the evil of every person or envious eye. May Allāh cure you. In the Name of Allah I perform ruqyah upon you.
[Saheeh Muslim, no. 2186]
This is the ruqyah which the angel Jibreel performed upon the Prophet (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) when he was ill.
7. Dua
Alternatively, one might say that which is confirmed in the two Saheehs (i.e. Saheeh al-Bukhāree and Saheeh Muslim), on the authority of ‘A’ishah (RadiyAllahu an-hā), that the Prophet (SallAllāhu Alaihi wa Sallam) used to say to the sick person:
بِاسْمِ اللَّهِ تُرْبَةُ أَرْضِنَا بِرِيقَةِ بَعْضِنَا لِيُشْفَى بِهِ سَقِيمُنَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّنَا
Transliteration
Bismillāhi Turbatu Ardinā, Bi Reeqati Ba’dinā, Yushfā saqeemunā, Bi-Idhni Rabbinā.
Meaning
In the Name of Allāh, with the surface soil of our land, (mixed) with the spittle (from the mouth) of one of us, our sick is healed, by the permission of our Rabb (Lord and Creator).
[Saheeh al-Bukhāree, no. 5745, and Saheeh Muslim, no. 2194]
Virtue of Visiting the Sick
1) The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “There is no Muslim who visits a sick Muslim early in the morning except that seventy thousand angels send blessings upon him until evening comes, and if he visits him in the evening, seventy thousand angels send blessings upon him until morning comes, and he will have a garden in Paradise.” [Sahih at-Targhib 3476]
2) The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever visits a sick person or visits a brother in Islam, a caller cries out to him, May you be happy, may your walking be blessed, and may you occupy a dignified position in Paradise.” [Sahih at-Tirmidhi 2008]
Guidelines for Visiting the Sick
When visiting the sick, it’s essential to:
- Encourage the sick person to supplicate for themselves.
- Only say positive and uplifting words in their presence.
As stated in Saheeh Muslim, Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “When you are with the sick or deceased, speak only good words, for the angels say Ameen to your words.” (Saheeh Muslim, no. 919)
Additionally, it’s recommended to:
- Choose comprehensive supplications that cover all aspects of well-being.
- Seek out supplications transmitted from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), as they are blessed, error-free, and encompass all good.
By following these guidelines, you can provide emotional support and spiritual comfort to the sick, and help them feel more at peace.
Etiquettes of Visiting the Sick
According to Sheikh ibn Uthaimeen’s explanation of Riyadus Saliheen, there are several essential etiquettes to observe when visiting the sick:
- Intend to obey the Prophet’s command and show kindness to your brother.
- Use the opportunity to guide the sick person towards beneficial actions, such as seeking repentance, forgiveness, and settling their liabilities.
- If you’re knowledgeable, inform the sick person about their obligations, like purification and prayer.
- Evaluate whether to prolong or shorten your visit based on what’s most beneficial.
- Remind the sick person of Allah’s favors, like good health, and encourage them to praise and beseech Allah.
- Encourage the sick person to supplicate for you, as their prayers are closer to acceptance due to their vulnerable state.
Visiting the sick offers abundant rewards, so it’s essential to be keen on doing so while observing these etiquettes.
