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مسند اسحاق بن راهويه
Musnad Ishaq
كتاب المرضٰي و الطبBook of the Sick and Medicine
Feeding the hungry and visiting the sick explained
Hadith 666
اُردوEn
أَخْبَرَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ الْبُنَانِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي رَافِعٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - مِثْلَهُ، وَقَالَ: لَوْ عُدْتَهُ لَوَجَدْتَنِي عِنْدَهُ.
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) a narration similar to the previous hadith, and stated it in this way: "If you had visited him, you would have found Me with him."
Explanation & Benefits
Hafiz Abdush Shakoor Tirmidhi
Benefits:
In the aforementioned hadith, encouragement is given to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, and visit the sick. From this, one can also gauge the great importance that the teachings and guidance of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) place on these social acts and on serving and assisting those in need.
➊ ... The aforementioned hadith establishes the virtue of feeding others.
In another hadith, it is mentioned that a man asked the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), “Which aspect of Islam is best?” He (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) replied: “You feed (the hungry) and greet everyone, whether you know them or not.” (Bukhari, no. 12; Muslim, no. 39)
➋ ... The aforementioned hadith also establishes the virtue of those who give water to others. In another hadith, it is narrated by Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radi Allahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “A man was walking and he became extremely thirsty. He went down into a well and drank water. When he came out, he saw a dog panting and licking the mud out of thirst. He said: ‘This dog is suffering from thirst just as I was.’ So he filled his leather sock with water and gave the dog water to drink. Allah accepted this deed of his and forgave him.” (Bukhari, no. 2363) If forgiveness can be granted to one who gives water to a dog, then is it not more likely for one who gives water to a human being?
➌ ... The virtue of visiting the sick is also established. Visiting the sick is a right of one Muslim over another. (Sahih Muslim, Book of Salam, Chapter: The Rights of a Muslim over Another Muslim, no. 2162) Regarding those who visit the sick, the Noble Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever visits a sick person, he is in the garden of Paradise until he returns.” (Muslim, Book of Birr and Sila, Chapter: The Virtue of Visiting the Sick, no. 2568)
In the aforementioned hadith, it is stated: “How could I feed you, give you drink, or visit you?” The meaning is that eating food, drinking water, and falling ill are signs of need and weakness, whereas You (O Allah) are not in need nor weak; rather, You are Able, Dominant, Strong, and Firm.
In the aforementioned hadith, encouragement is given to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, and visit the sick. From this, one can also gauge the great importance that the teachings and guidance of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) place on these social acts and on serving and assisting those in need.
➊ ... The aforementioned hadith establishes the virtue of feeding others.
In another hadith, it is mentioned that a man asked the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), “Which aspect of Islam is best?” He (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) replied: “You feed (the hungry) and greet everyone, whether you know them or not.” (Bukhari, no. 12; Muslim, no. 39)
➋ ... The aforementioned hadith also establishes the virtue of those who give water to others. In another hadith, it is narrated by Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radi Allahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “A man was walking and he became extremely thirsty. He went down into a well and drank water. When he came out, he saw a dog panting and licking the mud out of thirst. He said: ‘This dog is suffering from thirst just as I was.’ So he filled his leather sock with water and gave the dog water to drink. Allah accepted this deed of his and forgave him.” (Bukhari, no. 2363) If forgiveness can be granted to one who gives water to a dog, then is it not more likely for one who gives water to a human being?
➌ ... The virtue of visiting the sick is also established. Visiting the sick is a right of one Muslim over another. (Sahih Muslim, Book of Salam, Chapter: The Rights of a Muslim over Another Muslim, no. 2162) Regarding those who visit the sick, the Noble Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever visits a sick person, he is in the garden of Paradise until he returns.” (Muslim, Book of Birr and Sila, Chapter: The Virtue of Visiting the Sick, no. 2568)
In the aforementioned hadith, it is stated: “How could I feed you, give you drink, or visit you?” The meaning is that eating food, drinking water, and falling ill are signs of need and weakness, whereas You (O Allah) are not in need nor weak; rather, You are Able, Dominant, Strong, and Firm.
Source: Musnad Ishaq bin Rahwayh, Page: 666
