💯 Miscellaneous Benefits from Yemen

BENEFIT 60: Don't be insensitive The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whoever sees an afflicted person then says: ((الحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِي عَافَانِي مِمَّا ابْتَلَاكَ بِهِ، وَفَضَّلَنِي عَلَى كَثِيرٍ مِمَّنْ خَلَقَ تَفْضِيلًا)). 'All praise is due to Allāh who saved me from that which He has afflicted you with, and blessed me greatly over many of those whom He has created,' - he will not be struck by that affliction.” [Reported by Tirmithi (3432) - authenticated by Sheikh Albāni in Mukhtaṣar Aṣ-Ṣaḥīḥah (602)] QUESTION: Should you say this supplication audibly to the one who has been afflicted, or should you say it quietly to yourself? ANSWER: At-Teebi rahimahullah said: هذا إذا كان مبتلى بالمعاصي والفسوق، وأما إذا كان مريضا أو ناقص الخلقة لا يحسن الخطاب. "This is in the case of one who has been afflicted with sins and immorality, as for the one who is sick or has a physical defect, it is not benefitting to address them (with this supplication)." Similarly, Al-Qaari rahimahullah said: الصواب أنه يأتي به لورود الحديث بذلك، وإنما يعدل عن رفع الصوت إلى إخفائه في غير الفاسق بل في حقه أيضا إذا كان يترتب عليه مفسدة ويسمع صاحب البلاء الديني إذا أراد زجره ويرجو انزجاره. "The correct [view] is that a person utters it (this supplication) due to it being mentioned in the hadeeth, however, he refrains from raising his voice in the case of a non-faasiq and says it quietly. Rather even in the case of a faasiq (he should say it quietly) - if it results in evil. And he should should say it audibly to allow the one who has been trialled with a religious affliction (i.e. Shirk, bid'ah & sin) to hear it, if he does so in order to censure him - if he hopes that he will be censured by way of that." [Tuhfat Al-Ahwadhi]