—they visited a woman whom the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to visit. They called on her precisely because the Prophet had been in the habit of visiting her. When they sat down with her she began to weep, so they said, “Why are you crying? Do you not know that what is with Allah is better for His Messenger”—that is, better than the life of this world?”
She replied, “I am not crying on that account, but because revelation has ceased. When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, passed away, revelation came to an end; there will be no more revelation after the Messenger of Allah. For that reason Allah completed His law before He took him, as He says: ‘Today I have perfected for you your religion, completed My favor upon you, and chosen for you Islam as your religion’ (Qur’an 5:3).”
The two men then wept, for she had reminded them of something they had forgotten.
The remaining hadiths likewise highlight the virtue of visiting for the sake of Allah: Allah grants a reward to anyone who visits his brother or calls on him when he is ill; it is said to such a visitor, “You have done well, and your steps are blessed.” To the one who visits his brother for no worldly motive but purely out of love for Allah it is said, “Allah loves you just as you loved him for His sake.”
Besides this immense reward, visiting produces many benefits: it softens hearts, gathers people together, jogs the forgetful, wakes the heedless, teaches the uninformed—indeed, it brings numerous advantages that only those who practice it truly appreciate.
The same applies to visiting the sick: it carries great benefits. As mentioned earlier, it is one of a Muslim’s rights over his fellow Muslim that he be visited when ill, reminded of Allah—of repentance, making a will, and other matters from which he may profit.
These hadiths and those of similar purport therefore show that a person should do whatever fosters affection and brotherhood among fellow believers—whether paying visits, inquiring after the sick, gathering together, or any other act that nurtures such love.