Ruling on offering supplication out loud for a sick person and others saying Amin to his supplication

Offering supplication for the sick person is part of the recommended etiquette when visiting him, because he is in the greatest need of supplication by righteous people so that Allah will alleviate his suffering; it lifts his spirits and makes him feel better after having felt low because of sickness and trial.

This was the practice of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).

It was narrated from Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) that he spoke of when the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) visited him during his sickness, and said that he placed his hand on his forehead, then he passed his hand over my face and chest, then he said: “O Allah, heal Sa`d and complete his migration.” And it is as if I still feel the coolness of his hand on my heart up till now.

Narrated by al-Bukhari (5659) and Muslim (1628).

In fact, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) urged us to do that and taught us the supplication which it is hoped will be answered and lead to healing.

It was narrated from Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said:

“Whoever visits a sick person whose time of death has not come, and says seven times in his presence: ‘As’al Allaha al-`Azima Rabb al-`arsh al-`azimi an yashfiyaka (I ask Allah the Almighty, Lord of the mighty Throne, to heal you),’ Allah will heal him of that sickness.”

Narrated by Abu Dawud (3106); classed as authentic by al-Albani in Sahih Abi Dawud.

Imam an-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

It is recommended for the one who visits a sick person, if there is the hope that the sick person will survive, to offer supplication for him, whether there is the hope that he will survive or his survival is possible. There are many authentic hadiths about offering supplication for the sick person, which I have compiled in my book al-Adhkar… – then he mentioned some of them.

End quote from al-Majmu`, 5/112.

Offering supplication for the sick person is recommended, and there is no differentiation between whether it is done individually or collectively. When offering supplication individually, it is recommended to do so quietly or out loud, as the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) offered such supplications out loud. In the case of a group, it is recommended for them to offer supplication individually, but there is nothing wrong – if Allah wills – if one of them offers supplication and the rest of them say Amin to his supplication, because saying Amin to a supplication is itself a supplication, based on the fact that Musa (peace be upon him) prayed against Pharaoh, and his brother Harun said Amin to his supplication, and Allah described that as the supplication of both of them, as He, may He be Glorified, says (interpretation of the meaning):

{[Allah] said, “Your supplication has been answered.” So remain [both of you] on a right course and follow not the way of those who do not know}

[Yunus 10:89 – the words addressed to Musa appear in the dual form in Arabic, indicating that they include his brother too].

Al-Hafiz Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

Abu’l-`Aliyah, Abu Salih, `Ikrimah, Muhammad ibn Ka`b al-Qurazi and ar-Rabi` ibn Anas said: Musa offered supplication and Harun said Amin.  In other words, the verse is saying: We have granted you both that which you both asked for, namely the destruction of the people of Pharaoh.

End quote from Tafsir al-Quran al-`Azim, 4/291.

So if one of the visitors offers supplication and the others say Amin to it, they have all followed the Sunnah and benefitted the sick person, by Allah’s leave, especially if among those present there is anyone who cannot think of phrases to say himself in supplication, or this collective supplication is for some reason that makes it appropriate to do it collectively.

See also the answer to question no. 71968.

And Allah knows best.