- Thawban (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said, “When a Muslim visits his sick brother, he remains in the khurfah of Paradise until he returns.” He was asked, “O Messenger of Allah, what is the khurfah of Paradise?” He replied, “Its fruits.” Narrated by Muslim. In other words, he is gathering its fruit.
[Explanation]
The author (may Allah have mercy on him), in Riyad al-Salihin under the chapter “Visiting the Sick and Escorting the Deceased,” quoted the hadith of Abu Musa al-Ashʿari (may Allah be pleased with him) in which the Prophet ﷺ said, “Free the prisoner, feed the hungry, and visit the sick.” The Prophet ﷺ thus enjoined three matters:
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Visiting the sick. It has already been clarified that this is a communal obligation (fard kifayah). Muslims as a whole are required to visit their ill; if no one does so, the duty becomes binding on anyone who knows of the sick person, for this is one of the rights a Muslim has over his fellow Muslims.
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Feeding the hungry. Whenever we find someone in hunger, it is incumbent upon all of us to feed him. This, too, is a communal obligation: if enough people discharge it, the rest are absolved, but if no one does so, the responsibility devolves upon whoever is aware of the person’s condition.
The same applies to clothing the one who lacks garments; that as well is a communal duty.