Advice of Scholars - VISITING AN ILL PERSON

Sayyid Abdulhakîm bin Mustafa Arwâsî ‘rahmatullâhi aleyh’ says in his booklet Safar-i-âkhirat:

Visitors to an ill person must not stay very long. Even if they are people loved by the ill person, they must leave early. If an ill person asks, they must stay a little longer and, asking for permission after a while, they must leave if he does not ask them to stay. It is not right not to let anyone enter a seriously ill person’s room. Sâlih people must enter the room and stay there long enough to say the Sûra Ikhlâs once, even if the ill person does not want them to. You should not deprive the ill person with the excuse that the doctor said that no one must see him or talk to him. Sâlih people must enter his room and recite the Sûra Yâsîn-i sherîf. It would be useful even if it were recited secretly.

People with an ill person must not say interesting things that may worsen his illness; they must not tell stories or start conversations on such topics as newspapers, property, trade, politics and governments.

 The person on his deathbed must eat what is halâl. As far as possible, he must eat things prepared after saying the Basmala and other prayers by vigilant-hearted people who have ablution.

People with an ill person must tell religious tales and quote the words of the Awliyâ, of savants, and of Sâlih Muslims ‘rahmatullâhi ta’âlâ ’alaihim ajma’în’. They must elevate his love for these people. Talking about the Awliyâ-i-kirâm ‘rahmatullâhi ta’âlâ ’alaihim ajma’în’ causes Allah’s compassion.

When the symptoms of death are seen, children, people who are junub, and menstruating women must not be allowed into his room. Great care must be taken not to leave any pictures in the room, nor even in the house. A few learned and Sâlih Muslims must be with him and try to get him to say the Kalima-i-tawhîd without forcing him. He must not be oppressed to say it; those who are with him must say it loud enough to let him hear, but he must not be annoyed. If he says it once he need not be coached to say it again. If he says other things (after having said the Kalima-i-tawhîd), he must be reminded to say the Kalima-i-tawhîd once more. That is, his last word ought to be the Kalima-i-tawhîd. It is sunna for those who are with him to say, “lâ ilâha illallah,” once without forcing him. It is preferrable for those who will remind him to say the Kalima-i-tawhîd not to be his adversaries or inheritors. If no others are available his inheritors can do it.