The Book on Dying People

كَانَ النَّاسُ يَعْتَبِطُونَ اعْتِبَاطاً[1] فَلَمَّا كَانَ زَمَانُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع قَالَ يَا رَبِّ اجْعَلْ لِلْمَوْتِ عِلَّةً يُؤْجَرُ بِهَا الْمَيِّتُ وَ يُسَلَّى بِهَا عَنِ الْمُصَابِ قَالَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الْمُومَ وَ هُوَ الْبِرْسَامُ‌[2] ثُمَّ أَنْزَلَ بَعْدَهُ الدَّاءَ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘People would just drop dead. Ibrahim (Abraham), ‘Alayhi al Salam, in his time pleaded before Allah to create a cause for death so the dying person receives rewards and the grieving people find solace. Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, then sent al-Mum, which is a kind of fever causing ha

كَانَ النَّاسُ يَعْتَبِطُونَ اعْتِبَاطاً فَقَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ ع يَا رَبِّ لَوْ جَعَلْتَ لِلْمَوْتِ عِلَّةً يُعْرَفُ بِهَا وَ يُسَلَّى عَنِ الْمُصَابِ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الْمُومَ وَ هُوَ الْبِرْسَامُ ثُمَّ أَنْزَلَ الدَّاءَ بَعْدَهُ.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn Faddal from ‘Asim ibn Humayd from Sa‘d ibn Tarif who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘People would just drop dead. Ibrahim (Abraham), ‘Alayhi al Salam, pleaded before Allah, ‘Would that You had created a cause for death t

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ الْحُمَّى رَائِدُ الْمَوْتِ‌[3] وَ هُوَ سِجْنُ اللَّهِ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَ هُوَ حَظُّ الْمُؤْمِنِ مِنَ النَّارِ.

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say that fever is the harbinger of death; it is the prison of Allah on earth and the share of a believing person from the fire.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَاتَ‌ دَاوُدُ النَّبِيُّ ع يَوْمَ السَّبْتِ مَفْجُوءاً فَأَظَلَّتْهُ الطَّيْرُ بِأَجْنِحَتِهَا وَ مَاتَ مُوسَى كَلِيمُ اللَّهِ ع فِي التِّيهِ فَصَاحَ صَائِحٌ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاتَ مُوسَى ع وَ أَيُّ نَفْسٍ لَا تَمُوتُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Prophet David died suddenly on a Saturday and birds provided shadow over his body. Moses died in the wilderness where he had lost his way. A voice cried from the sky, “Moses has died! Who is he that does not die?””’

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ مَوْتَ الْفَجْأَةِ تَخْفِيفٌ عَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِ وَ أَخْذَةُ أَسَفٍ عَنِ الْكَافِرِ[1].

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘A sudden death compensates (for the short comings) of a believing person but it is a regrettable grip for an unbeliever.’”

أَكْثَرُ مَنْ يَمُوتُ مِنْ مَوَالِينَا بِالْبَطَنِ الذَّرِيعِ.

“Al-Rida (a.s.), has said that most of our followers die from widespread stomach (internal) illness.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الْحُمَّى رَائِدُ الْمَوْتِ وَ سِجْنُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى فِي أَرْضِهِ وَ فَوْرُهَا مِنْ جَهَنَّمَ وَ هِيَ حَظُّ كُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ مِنَ النَّارِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Fever is a harbinger of death and a prison of Allah on earth. Its heat is from hell and that is the share of a believing person (instead) of hellfire.’”

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ يُبْتَلَى بِكُلِّ بَلِيَّةٍ وَ يَمُوتُ بِكُلِّ مِيتَةٍ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ لَا يَقْتُلُ نَفْسَهُ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ’A believing person may die by any form of death and suffer from any form of suffering; however, he does not kill himself.”’

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ مِيتَةِ الْمُؤْمِنِ فَقَالَ يَمُوتُ الْمُؤْمِنُ بِكُلِّ مِيتَةٍ يَمُوتُ غَرَقاً وَ يَمُوتُ بِالْهَدْمِ وَ يُبْتَلَى بِالسَّبُعِ وَ يَمُوتُ بِالصَّاعِقَةِ وَ لَا تُصِيبُ ذَاكِرَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى.

The Imam said, ‘A believing person may die by any form of death, such as by drowning, or collapse of a house, by beasts or thunderous lightening but not when speaking of Allah.’”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَبْتَلِي الْمُؤْمِنَ بِكُلِّ بَلِيَّةٍ وَ يُمِيتُهُ بِكُلِّ مِيتَةٍ وَ لَا يَبْتَلِيهِ بِذَهَابِ عَقْلِهِ أَ مَا تَرَى أَيُّوبَ ع كَيْفَ سَلَّطَ إِبْلِيسَ عَلَى مَالِهِ وَ وُلْدِهِ وَ عَلَى أَهْلِهِ وَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنْهُ وَ لَمْ يُسَلِّطْهُ عَلَى عَقْلِهِ تَرَكَ لَهُ مَا يُوَحِّدُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ.

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, places a believing person under any kind of test and trial and causes him or her to die by any form of death but He does not cause him or her to suffer the loss of reason. Consider the case of prophet Ayyub, how Satan controlled his property, chil

إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَتَبَسَّمَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ رَأَيْنَاكَ رَفَعْتَ رَأْسَكَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَتَبَسَّمْتَ قَالَ نَعَمْ عَجِبْتُ لِمَلَكَيْنِ هَبَطَا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ يَلْتَمِسَانِ عَبْداً مُؤْمِناً صَالِحاً فِي مُصَلًّى كَانَ يُصَلِّي فِيهِ لِيَكْتُبَا لَهُ عَمَلَهُ فِي يَوْمِهِ وَ لَيْلَتِهِ فَلَمْ يَجِدَاهُ فِي مُصَلَّاهُ فَعَرَجَا إِلَى السَّم

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once the Messenger of Allah raised his head to the heaven and smiled. He was asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, we saw you. Why did you raise your head t

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‌ إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمَ إِذَا غَلَبَهُ ضَعْفُ الْكِبَرِ أَمَرَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الْمَلَكَ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ لَهُ فِي حَالِهِ تِلْكَ مِثْلَ مَا كَانَ يَعْمَلُ وَ هُوَ شَابٌّ نَشِيطٌ[2] صَحِيحٌ وَ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ إِذَا مَرِضَ وَكَّلَ اللَّهُ بِهِ مَلَكاً يَكْتُبُ لَهُ فِي سُقْمِهِ مَا كَانَ يَعْمَلُ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ فِي صِحَّتِهِ حَتَّى يَرْفَعَهُ اللَّهُ وَ يَقْبِضَهُ وَ كَذَلِكَ الْكَافِرُ إِذَا اشْتَغَلَ

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said that the Holy Prophet has said, ‘When a Muslim is weakened due to old age, Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, commands an angel to write down for him of good deeds equal to what he did when young, vigorous and in good health. Similarly, when he becomes ill, Allah commands an angel to write

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِلْمَلَكِ الْمُوَكَّلِ بِالْمُؤْمِنِ إِذَا مَرِضَ اكْتُبْ لَهُ مَا كُنْتَ تَكْتُبُ لَهُ فِي صِحَّتِهِ فَإِنِّي أَنَا الَّذِي صَيَّرْتُهُ فِي حِبَالِي.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Mughirah from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “This is a narration of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), from the Messenger of Allah. He (the Messenger of Allah) has said, ‘Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, says to the angel guarding a believi

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ سَهَرُ لَيْلَةٍ مِنْ مَرَضٍ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ عِبَادَةِ سَنَةٍ.

"Passing a sleepless night due to an illness is more rewarding than a whole year worshipping."

إِذَا صَعِدَ مَلَكَا الْعَبْدِ الْمَرِيضِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ عِنْدَ كُلِّ مَسَاءٍ يَقُولُ الرَّبُّ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى مَا ذَا كَتَبْتُمَا لِعَبْدِي فِي مَرَضِهِ فَيَقُولَانِ الشِّكَايَةَ فَيَقُولُ مَا أَنْصَفْتُ عَبْدِي إِنْ حَبَسْتُهُ فِي حَبْسٍ مِنْ حَبْسِي‌[1] ثُمَّ أَمْنَعُهُ الشِّكَايَةَ فَيَقُولُ اكْتُبَا لِعَبْدِي مِثْلَ مَا كُنْتُمَا تَكْتُبَانِ لَهُ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ فِي صِحَّتِهِ وَ لَا تَكْتُبَا عَلَيْهِ سَي

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when the two guard angels of a person suffering from illness ascend to heavens every evening, the Lord, Most Holy, Most Blessed, asks them, ‘What did you write down for My servant in his illness?’ They will say, ‘We wrote down his complaints.’

سَهَرُ لَيْلَةٍ مِنْ مَرَضٍ أَوْ وَجَعٍ أَفْضَلُ وَ أَعْظَمُ أَجْراً مِنْ عِبَادَةِ سَنَةٍ.

“One of the two Imam, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said that passing a sleepless night due to an illness or pain is more excellent and of greater reward than worshipping for a whole year.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِذَا مَرِضَ الْمُؤْمِنُ أَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَى صَاحِبِ الشِّمَالِ لَا تَكْتُبْ عَلَى عَبْدِي مَا دَامَ فِي حَبْسِي وَ وَثَاقِي ذَنْباً وَ يُوحِي إِلَى صَاحِبِ الْيَمِينِ أَنِ اكْتُبْ لِعَبْدِي مَا كُنْتَ تَكْتُبُهُ فِي صِحَّتِهِ مِنَ الْحَسَنَاتِ.

’When a believing person becomes ill, Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, sends revelation to the guard angel on his left side that says, “Do not write any evil thing against My servant until he is in My prison and is tied down in My heavy impediment.” He then sends revelation to the guard angel on his right side that s

الْجَسَدُ إِذَا لَمْ يَمْرَضْ أَشِرَ وَ لَا خَيْرَ فِي جَسَدٍ لَا يَمْرَضُ بِأَشَرٍ[2].

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘If one’s body does not become ill, he is vigorously happy. There is nothing good in a body that never becomes ill even by a strong (reason for) illness.’”

حُمَّى لَيْلَةٍ تَعْدِلُ عِبَادَةَ سَنَةٍ وَ حُمَّى لَيْلَتَيْنِ‌ تَعْدِلُ عِبَادَةَ سَنَتَيْنِ وَ حُمَّى ثَلَاثٍ تَعْدِلُ عِبَادَةَ سَبْعِينَ سَنَةً قَالَ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَبْلُغْ سَبْعِينَ سَنَةً قَالَ فَلِأُمِّهِ وَ أَبِيهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَبْلُغَا قَالَ فَلِقَرَابَتِهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَبْلُغْ قَرَابَتُهُ قَالَ فَلِجِيرَانِهِ.

‘One night’s suffering from fever is equal in reward to worshipping for a whole year, suffering from a fever for two nights is more rewarding than worshipping for two years, and the reward for suffering from fever for three nights is greater than the reward for worshipping up to seventy years. I then asked, ‘What happe

حُمَّى لَيْلَةٍ كَفَّارَةٌ لِمَا قَبْلَهَا وَ لِمَا بَعْدَهَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that suffering from fever for one night is expiation (for the sins) before and thereafter.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مَنْ مَرِضَ ثَلَاثاً فَلَمْ يَشْكُ إِلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْ عُوَّادِهِ أَبْدَلْتُهُ لَحْماً خَيْراً مِنْ لَحْمِهِ وَ دَماً خَيْراً مِنْ دَمِهِ فَإِنْ عَافَيْتُهُ عَافَيْتُهُ وَ لَا ذَنْبَ لَهُ وَ إِنْ قَبَضْتُهُ قَبَضْتُهُ إِلَى رَحْمَتِي.

The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, says, “If one remains ill for three days and does not complain about it to anyone of his visitors, I change his flesh into a better flesh and his blood into a better blood. If I give him good health, I give him a good health free from sin. If I take h

قَالَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ ابْتَلَيْتُهُ بِبَلَاءٍ فَلَمْ يَشْكُ إِلَى عُوَّادِهِ إِلَّا أَبْدَلْتُهُ لَحْماً خَيْراً مِنْ لَحْمِهِ وَ دَماً خَيْراً مِنْ دَمِهِ فَإِنْ قَبَضْتُهُ قَبَضْتُهُ إِلَى رَحْمَتِي وَ إِنْ عَاشَ عَاشَ وَ لَيْسَ لَهُ ذَنْبٌ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from certain persons of his people from abu Hamzah who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, Most Holy, Most blessed, says, “Any servant whom I test by an affliction and who does not complain about it before any of his visitors, I most certainly ch

قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَيُّمَا عَبْدٍ ابْتَلَيْتُهُ بِبَلِيَّةٍ فَكَتَمَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ عُوَّادِهِ ثَلَاثاً أَبْدَلْتُهُ لَحْماً خَيْراً مِنْ لَحْمِهِ وَ دَماً خَيْراً مِنْ دَمِهِ وَ بَشَراً خَيْراً مِنْ بَشَرِهِ فَإِنْ أَبْقَيْتُهُ أَبْقَيْتُهُ وَ لَا ذَنْبَ لَهُ وَ إِنْ مَاتَ مَاتَ إِلَى رَحْمَتِي.

“This a narration of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). He (the Imam) has said that Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, says, ‘Any one of my servants whom I put to test with an affliction and who does not complain about it before any of his visitors for three days, I change his flesh into a better flesh. I change his blood into a b

مَنْ مَرِضَ لَيْلَةً فَقَبِلَهَا بِقَبُولِهَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ لَهُ عِبَادَةَ سِتِّينَ سَنَةً قُلْتُ مَا مَعْنَى قَبُولِهَا قَالَ لَا يَشْكُو مَا أَصَابَهُ فِيهَا إِلَى أَحَدٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if one becomes ill in a night and accepts it in the way it has come, Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, on the other hand, writes down for him the reward for sixty years of worship. I (the narrator) then asked, ‘What is the meaning of “accepts it?”’ The Imam said, ‘He does not comp

مَنِ اشْتَكَى لَيْلَةً فَقَبِلَهَا بِقَبُولِهَا وَ أَدَّى إِلَى اللَّهِ شُكْرَهَا كَانَتْ كَعِبَادَةِ سِتِّينَ سَنَةً قَالَ أَبِي فَقُلْتُ لَهُ مَا قَبُولُهَا قَالَ يَصْبِرُ عَلَيْهَا وَ لَا يُخْبِرُ بِمَا كَانَ فِيهَا فَإِذَا أَصْبَحَ حَمِدَ اللَّهَ عَلَى مَا كَانَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if a person becomes ill in a night, welcomes the night with whatever it has brought and gives thanks to Allah for that, it will be equal in reward to sixty years of worshipping.’

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَنْ مَرِضَ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَكَتَمَهُ وَ لَمْ يُخْبِرْ بِهِ أَحَداً أَبْدَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَهُ لَحْماً خَيْراً مِنْ لَحْمِهِ وَ دَماً خَيْراً مِنْ دَمِهِ وَ بَشَرَةً خَيْراً مِنْ بَشَرَتِهِ‌[1] وَ شَعْراً خَيْراً مِنْ شَعْرِهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَ كَيْفَ يُبْدِلُهُ قَالَ يُبْدِلُهُ لَحْماً وَ دَماً وَ شَعْراً وَ بَشَرَةً لَمْ يُذْنِبْ فِيهَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one becomes ill for three days and does not inform anyone about it, Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, changes his flesh into a better flesh, his blood into a better blood, his skin into a better skin and his hair into better hair.’ I then asked, ’May Allah keep my soul in the serv

سُئِلَ عَنْ حَدِّ الشِّكَايَةِ لِلْمَرِيضِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ يَقُولُ حُمِمْتُ الْيَوْمَ وَ سَهِرْتُ الْبَارِحَةَ وَ قَدْ صَدَقَ وَ لَيْسَ هَذَا شِكَايَةً وَ إِنَّمَا الشَّكْوَى أَنْ يَقُولَ قَدِ ابْتُلِيتُ بِمَا لَمْ يُبْتَلَ بِهِ أَحَدٌ وَ يَقُولَ لَقَدْ أَصَابَنِي مَا لَمْ يُصِبْ أَحَداً وَ لَيْسَ الشَّكْوَى أَنْ يَقُولَ سَهِرْتُ الْبَارِحَةَ وَ حُمِمْتُ الْيَوْمَ وَ نَحْوَ هَذَا[2].

‘I have fever today and last night I did not sleep restfully’ and what he says is true, it is not a complaint. A (negative) complaint is if one says, ’I have suffered like no other person has suffered and I am placed in trial as no other person is.’ Just saying that one could not sleep restfully last night and that he

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ يَنْبَغِي لِلْمَرِيضِ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يُؤْذِنَ إِخْوَانَهُ بِمَرَضِهِ فَيَعُودُونَهُ فَيُؤْجَرُ فِيهِمْ وَ يُؤْجَرُونَ فِيهِ قَالَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ نَعَمْ هُمْ يُؤْجَرُونَ بِمَمْشَاهُمْ إِلَيْهِ فَكَيْفَ يُؤْجَرُ هُوَ فِيهِمْ قَالَ فَقَالَ بِاكْتِسَابِهِ لَهُمُ الْحَسَنَاتِ فَيُؤْجَرُ فِيهِمْ فَيُكْتَبُ لَهُ بِذَلِكَ عَشْرُ حَسَنَاتٍ وَ يُرْفَعُ لَهُ عَشْرُ دَرَجَاتٍ وَ يُمْحَى بِهَ

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘If one among you becomes ill, he should allow his brothers in belief to visit him during his illness, so that he may receive reward for it (for giving permission to visitors) and they may also receive reward for their visit.’ He (the Imam) was asked, ‘Their receiving reward for the

قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع‌ إِذَا مَرِضَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَأْذَنْ لِلنَّاسِ يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهِ فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا وَ لَهُ دَعْوَةٌ مُسْتَجَابَةٌ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘If one of you becomes ill he should allow people to visit him; everyone’s prayer has a chance to receive acceptance.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِذَا دَخَلَ أَحَدُكُمْ عَلَى أَخِيهِ عَائِداً لَهُ فَلْيَسْأَلْهُ يَدْعُو لَهُ فَإِنَّ دُعَاءَهُ مِثْلُ دُعَاءِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one of you visits his brother in belief during his illness, he should ask him (the patient) to pray for him; a patient’s prayer is like the prayer of the angels.’”

لَا عِيَادَةَ فِي وَجَعِ الْعَيْنِ وَ لَا تَكُونُ عِيَادَةٌ فِي أَقَلَّ مِنْ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ فَإِذَا وَجَبَتْ فَيَوْمٌ وَ يَوْمٌ لَا فَإِذَا طَالَتِ الْعِلَّةُ تُرِكَ الْمَرِيضُ وَ عِيَالَهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that visit is not necessary for one’s illness of eyes, also not before every three days, unless needed in which case it should take place with a one-day interval in between. If an illness prolongs, then the patient is left in the care of his family.”

الْعِيَادَةُ قَدْرَ فُوَاقِ نَاقَةٍ أَوْ حَلْبِ نَاقَةٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that duration of visiting a patient is as long as a baby- camel is given the chance to suckle the mother during milking the camel or as long as it takes to milk a camel.”

مَرِضَ بَعْضُ مَوَالِيهِ فَخَرَجْنَا إِلَيْهِ نَعُودُهُ وَ نَحْنُ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ مَوَالِي جَعْفَرٍ فَاسْتَقْبَلَنَا جَعْفَرٌ ع فِي بَعْضِ الطَّرِيقِ فَقَالَ لَنَا أَيْنَ تُرِيدُونَ فَقُلْنَا نُرِيدُ فُلَاناً نَعُودُهُ فَقَالَ لَنَا قِفُوا فَوَقَفْنَا فَقَالَ مَعَ أَحَدِكُمْ تُفَّاحَةٌ أَوْ سَفَرْجَلَةٌ أَوْ أُتْرُجَّةٌ أَوْ لَعْقَةٌ[2] مِنْ طِيبٍ أَوْ قِطْعَةٌ مِنْ عُودِ بَخُورٍ فَقُلْنَا مَا مَعَنَا شَيْ‌ءٌ مِنْ هَذَا

“A servant of Ja‘far ibn Muhammad (a.s.), informed me that once one of the followers of the Imam became ill and we went to visit him. We were a group of the followers of Ja‘far ibn Muhammad (a.s.). He (the Imam) met us at a distance on the way and asked, ‘Where are you going?’ We replied, ‘We like to visit so and so pa

تَمَامُ الْعِيَادَةِ لِلْمَرِيضِ أَنْ تَضَعَ يَدَكَ عَلَى ذِرَاعِهِ وَ تُعَجِّلَ الْقِيَامَ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ فَإِنَّ عِيَادَةَ النَّوْكَى أَشَدُّ عَلَى الْمَرِيضِ مِنْ وَجَعِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that visiting of a patient is complete upon placing your hand over his arm (praying) and standing up quickly to leave; an unwise visiting of a patient is harder for him than the pain due to illness.”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ تَمَامُ الْعِيَادَةِ أَنْ تَضَعَ يَدَكَ عَلَى الْمَرِيضِ إِذَا دَخَلْتَ عَلَيْهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Visit of a patient is complete when you place your hand on him when you meet him.’”

إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص قَالَ: إِنَّ مِنْ أَعْظَمِ الْعُوَّادِ أَجْراً عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَمَنْ إِذَا عَادَ أَخَاهُ خَفَّفَ الْجُلُوسَ إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ الْمَرِيضُ يُحِبُّ ذَلِكَ‌ وَ يُرِيدُهُ وَ يَسْأَلُهُ ذَلِكَ وَ قَالَ ع مِنْ تَمَامِ الْعِيَادَةِ أَنْ يَضَعَ الْعَائِدُ إِحْدَى يَدَيْهِ عَلَى الْأُخْرَى أَوْ عَلَى جَبْهَتِهِ‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘Of the visitors who receive the greatest reward from Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, is one whose visiting time is short, unless the patient likes otherwise and asks him to stay for a longer time.’ He has also said, ‘A visit is complete when

كَانَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ مَاتَ دُونَ الْأَرْبَعِينَ فَقَدِ اخْتُرِمَ وَ مَنْ مَاتَ دُونَ أَرْبَعَةَ عَشَرَ يَوْماً فَمَوْتُهُ مَوْتُ فَجْأَةٍ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘If one dies before the age of forty, his life is cut short, and if one dies before fourteen days from the day of his falling ill, such death is a sudden death.’”

مَنْ مَاتَ فِي أَقَلَّ مِنْ أَرْبَعَةَ عَشَرَ يَوْماً كَانَ مَوْتُهُ مَوْتَ فَجْأَةٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if one dies from an illness within fourteen days, such death is a sudden death.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ عَادَ امْرَأً مُسْلِماً فِي مَرَضِهِ صَلَّى عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَئِذٍ سَبْعُونَ أَلْفَ مَلَكٍ إِنْ كَانَ صَبَاحاً حَتَّى يُمْسُوا وَ إِنْ كَانَ مَسَاءً حَتَّى يُصْبِحُوا مَعَ أَنَّ لَهُ خَرِيفاً فِي الْجَنَّةِ[3].

“I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.), say, ‘If one visits a Muslim patient, that day seventy thousand angels pray for him from morning until night, if the visit is in the morning and until morning, if the visit takes place in the evening, and such visitor will have a house in paradise.”’

مَنْ عَادَ مَرِيضاً شَيَّعَهُ سَبْعُونَ أَلْفَ مَلَكٍ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لَهُ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if one visits a patient, seventy thousand angels escort him and ask Allah to forgive his sins until he returns back home.”

أَيُّمَا مُؤْمِنٍ عَادَ مُؤْمِناً خَاضَ فِي الرَّحْمَةِ خَوْضاً فَإِذَا جَلَسَ غَمَرَتْهُ الرَّحْمَةُ فَإِذَا انْصَرَفَ وَكَّلَ اللَّهُ بِهِ سَبْعِينَ أَلْفَ مَلَكٍ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لَهُ وَ يَسْتَرْحِمُونَ عَلَيْهِ وَ يَقُولُونَ طِبْتَ وَ طَابَتْ لَكَ الْجَنَّةُ إِلَى تِلْكَ السَّاعَةِ مِنْ غَدٍ وَ كَانَ لَهُ يَا أَبَا حَمْزَةَ خَرِيفٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ قُلْتُ وَ مَا الْخَرِيفُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ زَاوِيَةٌ فِي الْجَن

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘If a believing person visits a believing patient, he enters deep into mercy, and when he sits down, mercy covers him altogether. When he returns, Allah assigns seventy thousand angels to ask forgiveness and mercy for him saying, “You did a good deed, may paradise become your dwelling,” un

أَيُّمَا مُؤْمِنٍ عَادَ مُؤْمِناً فِي اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي مَرَضِهِ وَكَّلَ اللَّهُ بِهِ مَلَكاً مِنَ الْعُوَّادِ يَعُودُهُ فِي قَبْرِهِ وَ يَسْتَغْفِرُ لَهُ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If a believing person visits a believing patient just for the sake of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, Allah assigns an angel of the visiting angels to visit him in his grave and ask forgiveness for him up to the Day of Judgment.’”

مَنْ عَادَ مَرِيضاً مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَكَّلَ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَبَداً سَبْعِينَ أَلْفاً مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ يَغْشَوْنَ رَحْلَهُ‌[1] وَ يُسَبِّحُونَ فِيهِ وَ يُقَدِّسُونَ وَ يُهَلِّلُونَ وَ يُكَبِّرُونَ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ نِصْفُ صَلَاتِهِمْ لِعَائِدِ الْمَرِيضِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if one visits a Muslim patient, Allah assigns seventy thousand angels who come to his house saying Tasbih, Taqdis, Tahlil and Takbir up to the Day of Judgment. Half of their Salah (prayer) is for the visitor of the patient.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ أَيُّمَا مُؤْمِنٍ عَادَ مُؤْمِناً مَرِيضاً فِي مَرَضِهِ حِينَ يُصْبِحُ شَيَّعَهُ سَبْعُونَ أَلْفَ مَلَكٍ فَإِذَا قَعَدَ غَمَرَتْهُ الرَّحْمَةُ وَ اسْتَغْفَرُوا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَهُ حَتَّى يُمْسِيَ وَ إِنْ عَادَهُ مَسَاءً كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ حَتَّى يُصْبِحَ.

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘If a believing person visits a believing patient in his illness in the morning, seventy thousand angels escort him, and when he sits down, mercy covers him altogether and they ask Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, until nightfall to forgive him. If his visit takes place

مَنْ عَادَ مَرِيضاً وَكَّلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ مَلَكاً يَعُودُهُ فِي قَبْرِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if one visits a patient, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, assigns an angel to visit him in his grave.”

أَيُّمَا مُؤْمِنٍ عَادَ مُؤْمِناً حِينَ يُصْبِحُ شَيَّعَهُ سَبْعُونَ أَلْفَ مَلَكٍ فَإِذَا قَعَدَ غَمَرَتْهُ الرَّحْمَةُ وَ اسْتَغْفَرُوا لَهُ حَتَّى يُمْسِيَ وَ إِنْ عَادَهُ مَسَاءً كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ حَتَّى يُصْبِحَ.

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if a believing person visits a believing patient in the morning, seventy thousand angels escort him. When he sits down, mercy covers him altogether until nightfall. If he visits in the evening, similar things happen for him until the next morning.”

كَانَ فِيمَا نَاجَى بِهِ مُوسَى رَبَّهُ أَنْ قَالَ يَا رَبِّ مَا بَلَغَ مِنْ عِيَادَةِ الْمَرِيضِ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ[1] فَقَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أُوَكِّلُ بِهِ مَلَكاً يَعُودُهُ فِي قَبْرِهِ إِلَى مَحْشَرِهِ.

‘One of the conversations of Moses with his Lord was this, “O Lord, what is the reward for one who visits a person during his illness?’ Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, replied, ‘I assign an angel to visit him in his grave until the Day of Judgment.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَنْ عَادَ مَرِيضاً نَادَاهُ مُنَادٍ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ بِاسْمِهِ يَا فُلَانُ طِبْتَ وَ طَابَ لَكَ مَمْشَاكَ بِثَوَابٍ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ[2].

‘If one visits a patient, a caller from the heaven calls, “O so and so, you have done a good deed. I congratulate you for your walking to paradise.’””

إِذَا حَضَرْتَ الْمَيِّتَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَمُوتَ فَلَقِّنْهُ شَهَادَةَ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ.[3]

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when one is about to die, before he dies, you should dictate to him the two testimonies: ‘No one, other than Allah who has no partners, deserves to be worshipped and Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.’”

إِنَّكُمْ تُلَقِّنُونَ مَوْتَاكُمْ عِنْدَ الْمَوْتِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ نَحْنُ نُلَقِّنُ مَوْتَانَا مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that you should dictate to your dying people, ‘Only Allah is the Lord to be worshipped.’ We, however, (in addition) dictate to our dying people, ‘Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.’”