Imam -asws replied: To remian patient during his sufferings at night and not to narrate to others what he experienced and thank Allah -azwj upon getting up in the morning.
[21] What is the limit of complaints: عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ جَمِيلِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ سُئِلَ عَنْ حَدِّ الشِّكَايَةِ لِلْمَرِيضِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ يَقُولُ حُمِمْتُ الْيَوْمَ وَ سَهِرْتُ الْبَارِحَةَ وَ قَدْ صَدَقَ وَ لَيْسَ هَذَا شِكَايَةً وَ إِنَّمَا الشَّكْوَى أَنْ يَقُولَ قَدِ ابْتُلِيتُ بِمَا لَمْ يُبْتَلَ بِهِ أَحَدٌ وَ يَقُولَ لَقَدْ أَصَابَنِي مَا لَمْ يُصِبْ أَحَداً وَ لَيْسَ الشَّكْوَى أَنْ يَقُولَ سَهِرْتُ الْبَارِحَةَ وَ حُمِمْتُ الْيَوْمَ وَ نَحْوَ هَذَا It was asked from Imam AbuAbullah -asws what is the limit when informing others of a patient’s sufferings will be considered as compliant?
Imam -asws replied if he says: ‘I was sufferring from fever last night and could not sleep during the night then he is justified to describe his ordeal and this will not be considered as making a complaint. However, if he says, e.g., I am engulfed in such a trouble that no one would be (then it’s a complaint)! But if he only says: ‘I have been awake all night due to fever’ this will not be termed as complaining.
[22] To Inform others about One’s Illness: عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ أَبِي وَلَّادٍ الْحَنَّاطِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ يَنْبَغِي لِلْمَرِيضِ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يُؤْذِنَ إِخْوَانَهُ بِمَرَضِهِ فَيَعُودُونَهُ فَيُؤْجَرُ فِيهِمْ وَ يُؤْجَرُونَ فِيهِ قَالَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ نَعَمْ هُمْ يُؤْجَرُونَ بِمَمْشَاهُمْ إِلَيْهِ فَكَيْفَ يُؤْجَرُ هُوَ فِيهِمْ قَالَ فَقَالَ بِاكْتِسَابِهِ لَهُمُ الْحَسَنَاتِ فَيُؤْجَرُ فِيهِمْ فَيُكْتَبُ لَهُ بِذَلِكَ عَشْرُ حَسَنَاتٍ وَ يُرْفَعُ لَهُ عَشْرُ دَرَجَاتٍ وَ يُمْحَى بِهَا عَنْهُ عَشْرُ سَيِّئَاتٍ Imam AbuAbdullah -asws said: It would be better for a patient to inform others about his illness, so that they could visit him and get their reward of looking after him, as a patient will also be rewarded.
Someone commented, it is obvious that the visitor will get the reward for their efforts and time but what is the reason for rewarding the patient? Imam -asws replied: ‘Because he has given them an opportunity to visit him and be rewarded, so he will get 10 rewards and will be elevated 10 divine grades whereas his 10 sins will be erased’.