Having established that we must visit the sick, this chapter teaches what to say when we get there. These are the Prophet's own supplications and ruqyah, the practice of seeking healing through the words of Allah and sincere du'a. A recurring title for Allah here is ash-Shafi, the Curer, and the theme that runs through every prayer is that no cure is real except the one He grants.
Read these supplications together and a pattern appears. Each one places the cure entirely in Allah's hands, 'there is no cure but Yours,' while still encouraging us to act, to place a hand on the pain, to recite, to ask seven times. Notice too the tender reframing in some of them: sickness is called a purification, not a punishment, and a believer who meets death affirming Allah's oneness is promised safety from the Fire.
Hadith 901
`Aishah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
عن عائشة رضي الله عنها، أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم الله عليه وسلم الله عليه وسلم كان إذا اشتكي الأنسان الشيء منه، أو كانت به قرحة أو جرح، قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلمى الله عليه وسلم الله عليه وسلم بأصبعه هكذا، ووضع سفيان بن عيينه الراوي سبابته بالأرض ثم رفعها وقال: "بسم الله، تربة أرضنا، بريقة بعضنا، يشفي سقيمنا، بإذن ربنا" ((متفق عليه))
When a person complained to the Prophet (ﷺ) about an ailment or suffered from a sore or a wound, the Prophet (ﷺ) 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].
In plain words
A short prayer the Prophet would say when someone was hurt or ill, asking that simple means like the earth and saliva bring a cure, but only by Allah's permission.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 901 In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 8
Hadith 902
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
وعنها أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم الله عليه وسلم الله عليه وسلم كان يعود بعض أهله يمسح بيده اليمني ويقول: "اللهم رب الناس، أذهب البأس، واشف، أنت الشافي لا شفاء إلا شفاؤك، شفاءً لا يغادر سقماً” ((متفق عليه))
When the Prophet (ﷺ) 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].
In plain words
A prayer for the sick that calls on Allah as the Lord of all people and the only true Curer, asking for a complete cure that leaves no trace of the illness behind.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 902 In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 9
Hadith 903
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أنس، رضي الله عنه أنه قال لثابت رحمه الله: ألا أرقيك برقية رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ؟ قال: بلى، قال: اللهم رب الناس، مذهب البأس، اشف أنت الشافي، لا شافي إلا أنت، شفاءً لا يغادر سقماً” ((رواه البخاري)).
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 (ﷺ)?" 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].
In plain words
Anas passes on the same healing prayer he learned from the Prophet, showing that we are encouraged to pray over the sick using these very words, while knowing the cure comes from Allah alone.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 903 In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 10
Hadith 904
Sa'd bin Abu Waqqas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن سعد بن أبي وقاص، رضي الله عنه قال: عادني رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: "اللهم اشف سعداً، اللهم اشف سعداً، اللهم اشف سعداً" ((رواه مسلم)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) visited me during my illness and supplicated, "O Allah! Cure Sa'd. O Allah! Cure Sa'd. O' Allah! Cure Sa'd." [Muslim].
In plain words
The Prophet visited his sick Companion and simply repeated a heartfelt plea for his recovery, a model of praying earnestly and directly for someone who is ill.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 904 In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 11
Hadith 905
Abu 'Abdullah bin Abul-'as (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي عبد الله عثمان بن أبي العاص رضي الله عنه أنه شكي إلي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وجعاً يجده في جسده فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم "ضع يدك علي الذي تألم من جسدك وقل: بسم الله -ثلاثاً- وقل سبع مرات: أعوذ بعزة الله وقدرته من شر ما أجد وأحاذر” ((رواه مسلم)).
I complained to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about a pain I had in my body. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) 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].
In plain words
When you feel pain, place your hand on the spot, say Bismillah three times, then seven times seek refuge in Allah's might and power from the harm you feel and fear.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 905 In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 12
Hadith 906
Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
وعن ابن عباس، رضي الله عنهما، عن النبي،صلى الله عليه وسلمى الله عليه وسلم صلى الله عليه وسلم ، قال: "من عاد مريضاً لم يحضره أجله، فقال عنده سبع مرات: أسأل الله العظيم رب العرش العظيم أن يشفيك: إلا عافاه الله من ذلك المرض" ((رواه أبو داود والترمذي وقال: حديث حسن، وقال الحاكم: حديث صحيح علي شرط البخاري)).
The Prophet (ﷺ) 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].
In plain words
Visiting someone who is sick but not dying and praying for them seven times with these words is met with Allah's promise to heal them from that illness.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 906 In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 13
Hadith 907
Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
وعنه أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم الله عليه وسلم صلى الله عليه وسلم ، دخل علي أعرأبي يعوده وكان إذا دخل علي من يعوده قال: "لا بأس، طهور إن شاء الله" ((رواه البخاري)).
The Prophet (ﷺ) 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].
In plain words
The Prophet would comfort the sick by reframing their suffering, calling it a cleansing of sins rather than a punishment, if Allah wills.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 907 In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 14
Hadith 908
Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبيسعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه أن جبريل أتي النبي،صلى الله عليه وسلمى الله عليه وسلم صلى الله عليه وسلم ، فقال: يا محمد اشتكيت؟ قال: "نعم" قال: بسم الله أرقيك ، من كل شيء يؤذيك، ومن شر كل نفس أو عين حاسد، الله يشفيك، بسم الله أرقيك” ((رواه مسلم)).
Jibril (Gabriel) came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: "O Muhammad (ﷺ)! Do you feel sick?" He (ﷺ) 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].
In plain words
Even the Prophet was prayed over when unwell, here by the angel Jibril, who sought refuge for him in Allah's name from every harm, mischief, and the envier's evil eye.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 908 In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 15
Hadith 909
Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri and Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
وعن أبي سعيد الخدري وأبي هريرة، رضي الله عنهما، أنهما شهدا علي رسول الله ، صلى الله عليه وسلم ، أنه قال: "من قال: لا إله إلا الله والله اكبر، صدقه ربه، فقال: لا إله إلا أنا وأنا أكبر. وإذا قال: لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، قال: يقول: لا إله إلا أنا وحدي لا شريك لي. وإذا قال: لا إله إلا الله له الملك وله الحمد، قال: لا إله إلا أنا لي الملك ولي الحمد. وإذا قال: لا إله إلا الله ولا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله، قال: لا إله إلا أنا ولا حول ولا قوة إلا بي" وكان يقول: "من قالها في مرضه ثم مات لم تطعمه النار" ((رواه الترمذي وقال: حديث حسن))
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) 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 (ﷺ) added, "He who recites this during his illness and dies, will not be touched by the Fire (Hell)." [At-Tirmidhi].
In plain words
When a person affirms Allah's oneness and greatness with these words, Allah Himself confirms them; whoever recites this during a final illness and dies upon it is kept from the Fire.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 909 In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 16