Whenever I say that the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) looked after his companions and cared for the weak and vulnerable among them, I feel that I am merely making an understatement. That he cared for them is a fact, but his care was more like that of a father who wants his children to be successful and able to cope with whatever life might bring. They consulted him about all their affairs, and he always told them what was certain to benefit them or spare them what was unpleasant and disadvantageous.
One situation when care is most welcome is illness. When we are ill, we feel weak and vulnerable. Even if the illness is far from being life-threatening, we begin to think of death. We think we are losing in the battle of life. When we are healthy, we feel our strength and we tend to forget the fact that we are always liable to contract an illness. We think that we can do whatever we want with immunity. Illness makes the reality of our weakness stare us in the face.
A visit by close friends and relatives is most welcome to a person suffering from illness. A patient feels then that people care for him, think about his well-being and wish him back on the road to full health. The Prophet teaches us that visiting patients is an important act that cements relations within the community and keep people close together. The Prophet’s teachings were often by practical example. He was always ready to visit those who were ill, even if they were not Muslims. He would also say what comforted the patient and give him sound advice.
Aishah bint Saad ibn Abi Waqqas quotes her father as saying: “I was seriously ill in Makkah. The Prophet came to visit me. I asked him: ‘Prophet! If I die, I will leave plenty of money, but I have only one daughter. Shall I give away, by will, two thirds of my property?’ He said: ‘No.’ I asked: ‘Then how about one half?’ Again he refused. So I said: ‘Then what do you say if I give away one third and leave her two thirds?’ He said: ‘You can give away one third, but one third is plenty.’ He then put his hand over his forehead and wiped my face and belly before he said: ‘My Lord! Grant Saad full recovery and make his migration complete.’ I still feel at times his coolness over my body until today.” (Related by Al-Bukhari.)
This authentic Hadith gives us important guidance on more than one aspect. The first concerns visiting those who are ill and what to say to them. It is clear that visiting patients is a highly recommended Sunnah. The Prophet did not hesitate to visit his companions when they were ill. He would comfort them and pray for their recovery.
Another point to learn is that often a patient would rather not talk about his illness. It my be better if his mind is diverted from his condition by turning the conversation to some other topic. In this instance, it was Saad who brought up the question of inheritance. The Prophet advised him against giving away a large portion of his wealth. He set the maximum that we can bequeath by will at one third of one’s property. This portion can be given to those who have no right of inheritance from us. Close relatives, such as parents, spouses and children, have their own shares set by God and no one can deprive them of these shares. The will is made in favor of relatives who are not heirs, or for some charitable purpose. It is such kindness and charity that is set at a maximum of one third.
Another version of this Hadith quotes the Prophet as saying to Saad when he told him of this maximum: “One third is plenty. It is better that you leave your heirs rich rather than leaving them poor, asking others for help.” If a person bequeaths much of his wealth to charity, or to poor relatives, he does so in the hope of earning reward from God, but the Prophet is telling him in this Hadith that it is better for him and the Muslim community that he looks after his heirs, rather than deprive them of their right of inheritance.
We should perhaps add here that although Saad was taken ill in Makkah, this was long after his immigration to Madinah with the Prophet. Two points confirm this. One is the Prophet’s prayer to make Saad’s migration complete. Had he died in Makkah, he might have been considered to have gone back to his hometown to settle there. The other point is the fact that he was speaking of his wealth. When the Prophet and his companions were in Makkah, they were poor. Only one or two of them had any money to be considered.
As often happened during the Prophet’s lifetime, some important legislation was given when an occasion arose. Jabir ibn Abdullah reports: “God’s Messenger came to visit me when I was ill, unconscious. He performed his ablution and poured over me some of the water that he had for ablution. I recovered my consciousness. I then asked him: “Messenger of God! Who will inherit me? I have no direct heirs.” Soon after the verse that defines inheritance in this situation was revealed.” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
This Hadith mentions how the Prophet did everything he could to reduce the suffering of his companion. He would pour water over a sick person to cool his temperature so that he could regain his consciousness. We see him on other occasions doing something different, as the case requires. The Hadith provides yet another example of how Qur’anic revelations outlined rules for the Muslim community, answering particular needs in the first instance, but aiming to meet a need of society. At this point in his life, Jabir mentions to the Prophet that he had no direct heirs, which meant that neither of his parents was alive and he had no children. He wondered who would inherit him. This situation is explained in the last verse of Surah 4, Women, which outlines who would inherit such a person when he dies.
Another Hadith concerning the Prophet’s visit to Jabir when he was ill gives us other details. Jabir reports: “When I was ill, the Prophet came to see me together with Abu Bakr in our place in the Bani Salamah quarters, and both of them came walking.” (Related by Al-Bukhari.) We note the particular emphasis Jabir places on how the Prophet came. He mentions that he was in his home, because his clan’s quarters was at a long distance from Madinah, and he mentions that both the Prophet and Abu Bakr walked all this distance just to come and see him in his illness.