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. Evenif they are people loved by the ill person, they must leave early. If an illperson asks, they must stay a little longer and, asking for permission after awhile, they must leave if he does not ask them to stay. It is not right not tolet anyone enter a seriously ill person’s room. Pious people must enter theroom and stay there long enough to say the Sûra Ikhlâs once, even if the illperson does not want them to. You should not deprive the ill person with theexcuse that the doctor said that no one must see him or talk to him. Piouspeople must enter his room and recite the Sûra Yâsîn-i-sherîf. It would beuseful even to say it secretly.

People with an ill person must not say exciting thingsthat may worsen his illness; they must not tell stories or start conversationson such topics as newspapers, property, trade, politics and governments.

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

People with an ill person must tell religious tales andquote the words of the Awliyâ, of savants, and of pious sages. They mustelevate 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 whoare junub, and menstruating women must not be allowed into his room. Great caremust be taken not to leave any pictures in the room, nor even in the house.Some savants or pious sages must be with him and try to get him to say theKalima-i-tawhîd without forcing him. He must not be oppressed to say it; thosewho are with him must say it loud enough to let him hear, but he must not beannoyed. If he says it once he need not be coached to say it again. If he saysother things, he must be reminded to say the Kalima-i-tawhîd once more. Thatis, his last word must be the Kalima-i-tawhîd. It is sunna for those who arewith him to have him say, “lâ ilâha illallah,” once without forcing him. It ispreferrable for those who will remind him to say the Kalima-i-tawhîd not to behis adversaries or inheritors. If no others are available his inheritors can doit.