his brother remains ill, and escorting a funeral means accompanying it to the grave.

The author then quotes the ḥadīth of al-Barāʼ ibn ʿĀzib. We have already discussed most of that report; the point of relevance here is the Prophet’s statement concerning visiting the sick. This is something the Prophet ﷺ explicitly commanded, and it is a communal obligation: if some Muslims undertake it the rest are absolved, but if no one does so, then everyone who knows of the patient is required to go and visit him.

The sick person for whom this visit is prescribed is the one who has become confined to his home and can no longer go out. As for someone with a mild illness that does not prevent him from leaving the house and mixing with people, he is not visited in this technical sense; rather, when one learns of his condition, he merely asks about him.

Visiting the sick carries many etiquettes, among them:

1. The visitor should intend, by his visit, to obey the Prophet’s command, for the Prophet ﷺ ordered that visits be made.
2. He should also intend to show kindness to his brother, for when a patient is visited by a fellow Muslim he finds great comfort and his heart is lifted.
3. He should seize the opportunity to direct the patient toward what will benefit him—advising him to repent, to seek forgiveness, and to discharge any obligations he owes to other people.
4. The patient may be confused about matters of purification, prayer, and similar rulings. If the visitor is a student of knowledge, the patient will benefit from him, because he can explain what the sick person is required to do regarding purification and prayer.