The Islamic Etiquette of Visiting the Sick (Ziyarat al-Marid)

Visiting the sick — ziyārat al-marīḍ — is one of the great rights that Muslims hold over one another. The Prophet ﷺ listed it explicitly: 'The rights of the Muslim upon the Muslim are five: responding to his greeting, visiting him when he is sick, following his funeral, accepting his invitation, and saying yarhamuk Allah when he sneezes.' (Bukhari) Far from being a mere social custom, the visit is a form of worship that earns an extraordinary reward and brings profound comfort to the person who is suffering.

The Immense Reward of Visiting the Sick

The Prophet ﷺ described the reward in vivid terms: 'When a Muslim visits a sick Muslim, he does not stop gathering the harvest of Paradise until he returns home.' (Muslim) In another narration: 'Whoever visits a sick person, a caller from the heavens calls out: You have done well, your steps are blessed, and you have made for yourself a dwelling in Paradise.' (Tirmidhi) The visit, even if brief, is spiritually weighty in a way that few everyday acts can match.

Illness is also understood as an expiation for the believer. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'No fatigue, illness, anxiety, sorrow, harm or distress befalls a Muslim, even if it is the prick of a thorn, except that Allah expiates some of his sins by it.' (Bukhari) Reminding the sick person of this — gently and with compassion — is itself an act of kindness.

What to Say: The Prophetic Dua at the Bedside

When the Prophet ﷺ visited a sick person, he would say a brief but deeply reassuring phrase. Ibn Abbas (RA) reported that the Prophet ﷺ used to say upon visiting the sick:

The Seven-Times Supplication for Healing

The Prophet ﷺ also taught a specific supplication to say seven times when visiting someone who is ill. He said: 'Whoever visits a sick person who has not yet reached the point of death and says seven times: [the following], Allah will cure him from that illness.' (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi)

The Complete Etiquette of the Visit

1. Make the intention before leaving that this visit is an act of worship and a fulfilment of a right — not merely a social obligation.
2. Choose a good time. Ask family members or check when the patient has energy. Avoid times of medication, rest or medical procedures.
3. Keep the visit brief unless the sick person is visibly energised and eager for company. Long visits can be exhausting for the unwell.
4. Sit close and be present. Switch off distractions. Looking the person in the eye and being fully attentive is itself a gift.
5. Ask about their state gently — once is enough. Do not pepper them with questions or dwell on frightening details of their illness.
6. Recite the duas above. Say Lā ba'sa ṭahūrun inshā'Allāh and, if the person is not at the point of death, the seven-times supplication.
7. Offer a gentle reminder of patience and the expiation of sins through illness — but read the room and never minimise their pain.
8. Leave with a prayer. As you depart, make a final dua for their swift and complete recovery.

Mistakes to Avoid

Pairing your visit with heartfelt dua is the essence of the prophetic way. To deepen your understanding of how Allah responds to supplication, read our guide on the adab of making dua.