When God is sick

Question:

Are there traditions that literally speak of God being sick?

Answer:

Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.) reported that the Prophet Muhammad (s.) said: “God will reproach a servant among His servants on the last day by saying: “O My servant, what kept you from visiting Me when I was sick? The servant says: “Exalted are You, exalted are You, You are the Lord of servants! Neither do you suffer from pain nor do you suffer from sickness!” Then God says: “Your believing brother was sick, but you didn’t visit him! At My honour, at My glory, if you had visited him, you would have found Me with him. then I would have taken care of your needs and taken care of them for you and this is part of the goodness I show to My faithful servant, for I am the Gracious, the Merciful” [Al-Amali from At-Tusi, page 629 – 630 Hadith 8]

وعنه، قال: أخبرنا جماعة، عن أبي المفضل، قال: حدثنا أبو علي أحمد بن محمد بن الحسين بن إسحاق بن جعفر العلوي العريضي الشيخ الصالح بحران، قال: حدثنا جدي الحسين بن إسحاق، عن أبيه، عن أخيه موسى بن جعفر، عن أبيه جعفر، عن أبيه محمد بن علي، عن أبيه، عن جده، عن علي عليهم السلام عن النبي صلى الله عليه وآله قال: يعير الله عز وجل عبدا من عباده يوم القيامة، فيقول: عبدي، ما منعك إذ مرضت أن تعودني؟ فيقول: سبحانك، أنت رب العباد لا تألم ولا تمرض! فيقول. مرض أخوك المؤمن فلم تعده، وعزتي وجلالي لو عدته لوجدتني عنده، ثم لتكلفت بحوائجك فقضيتها لك، وذلك من كرامة عبدي المؤمن، وأنا الرحمن الرحيم

Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet Muhammad (s.) said: “God will say: “O son of Adam, I was sick but you did not visit Me. The Son of Adam said: “O Lord, how could I visit You when You are the Lord of the worlds?” Then the Great One will say: “One of My servants was sick and if you had visited him, you would have found Me with him. I asked you for water, but you gave Me no water.” The Son of Adam says: “O Lord, how could I give you water when you are the Lord of the worlds?” Then the blessed one says: “One of My servants asked you for water, and if you had given him water, you would have found it with Me. I asked you for food, but you gave Me no food.” The Son of Adam says: “O Lord, how could I give you food when you are the Lord of the worlds?” then the great one says: “one of my servants asked you for food and if you had given him food, you would have found it with me.” [Al-Amali of At-Tusi, page 630 Hadith 9]

وعنه، قال: أخبرنا جماعة، عن أبي المفضل، قال: حدثنا الحسين ابن موسى بن خلف الفقيه برأس عين، قال: حدثنا عبد الرحمن بن خالد الرقي القطان، قال: حدثنا زيد بن حباب، قال: أخبرنا حماد بن سلمة، عن ثابت، عن أبي رافع، عن أبي هريرة، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وآله قال: إن الله تعالى يقول: يا بن آدم، مرضت فلم تعدني. قال: يا رب، كيف أعودك وأنت رب العالمين! قال: مرض فلان عبدي، ولو عدته لوجدتني عنده، واستسقيتك فلم تسقني. قال: يا رب كيف وأنت رب العالمين! قال: استسقاك عبدي فلان، ولو سقيته لوجدت ذلك عندي، واستطعمتك فلم تطعمني. قال: يا رب، كيف وأنت رب العالمين! قال: استطعمك عبدي، ولو أطعمته لوجدت ذلك عندي

Husain Ibn Sa’id reported that Imam Al-Baqir and As-Sadiq (a.) said: “The servant approaches God on the Day of Resurrection, whereupon He settles with Him in an easy way. Then God reproaches him and says: “O believer, what kept you from visiting Me when I was sick? The servant says: “You are my Lord and I am Your servant, You are the Living One whom neither pain nor suffering can touch.” Then the Lord says: “He that hath opposed the faithful hath opposed Me.” Then the Great One says: “Do you know this one who is the son of that one?” The servant says: “Yes.” Then the Lord says: “What kept you from visiting him when he was sick? If you had visited him, you would have visited Me and then you would have found Me at your request. If you had asked Me for a need, I would have taken care of it and not kept it from you.” [Jami’-ul-Ahadith of Al-Burujirdi, Volume 3 Page 113 Hadith 43]

عن الحسين بن سعيد رضي الله عنه عن أبي جعفر وأبي عبد الله عليهما السلام قالا إذا كان يوم القيمة أدنى العبد المؤمن إلى الله عز وجل فيحاسبه حسابا يسيرا ثم يعاتبه فيقول يا مؤمن ما منعك ان تعودني حيث مرضت فيقول المؤمن أنت ربي وانا عبدك أنت الحي الذي لا يصيبك الم ولا نصب فيقول الرب عز وجل من عاد مؤمنا فقد عادني ثم يقول عز وجل هل تعرف فلان بن فلان فيقول نعم فيقول ما منعك ان تعوده حيث مرض اما لو عدته لعدتني ثم لوجدتني عند سؤلك ثم لو سئلتني حاجة لقضيتها لك ثم لم أردك عنها

Muhammad Baqir Al-Majlisi writes: “With “then you would have found Me with him” is meant: “Then you would have found My mercy or knowledge with him.” It’s a metaphorical and symbolic expression to show the highest degree of kindness to the believer.” [Bihar-ul-Anwar, Volume 64, page 70]

قال محمد باقر المجلسي: لوجدتني أي وجدت رحمتي أو علمي عنده، والكلام مشتمل على المجاز والاستعارة مبالغة في إكرام المؤمن

Similar things are circulating among the people of renewal.

Proof:

Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet Muhammad (s.) said: “On the Day of Resurrection, God will say: ‘O son of Adam, I was sick, but you did not visit Me. He says: “O Lord, how could I visit You when You are the Lord of the worlds?” Then the Great One will say: “Do you not know that one of My servants was sick and you did not visit him? Do you not know that if you had visited him, you would have found Me with him? O son of Adam, I asked you for food, but you gave Me no food.” He says: “O Lord, how could I give You food when You are the Lord of the worlds?” Then the Great One says: “Do you not know that one of My servants asked you for food and you did not give him food? Do you not know that if you had given him food, you would have found it with Me? O son of Adam, I asked you for water, but you gave Me no water.” He says: “O Lord, how could I give you water when you are the Lord of the worlds?” Then the sublime one says: “Do you not know that one of My servants asked you for water and you gave him no water? Do you not know that if you had given him water, you would have found it with Me?” [Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2569 in Arabic; Book 23 Hadith 6232 in English]

حدثني محمد بن حاتم بن ميمون حدثنا بهز حدثنا حماد بن سلمة عن ثابت عن أبي رافع عن أبي هريرة قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إن الله عز وجل يقول يوم القيامة يا ابن آدم مرضت فلم تعدني قال يا رب كيف أعودك وأنت رب العالمين قال أما علمت أن عبدي فلانا مرض فلم تعده أما علمت أنك لو عدته لوجدتني عنده يا ابن آدم استطعمتك فلم تطعمني قال يا رب وكيف أطعمك وأنت رب العالمين قال أما علمت أنه استطعمك عبدي فلان فلم تطعمه أما علمت أنك لو أطعمته لوجدت ذلك عندي يا ابن آدم استسقيتك فلم تسقني قال يا رب كيف أسقيك وأنت رب العالمين قال استسقاك عبدي فلان فلم تسقه أما إنك لو سقيته وجدت ذلك عندي