Thawbān (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If a Muslim visits his sick fellow Muslim, he will remain in the Khurfah of Paradise tills he leaves returns." It was asked: "O Messenger of Allah, what the Khurfah of Paradise." He said: "Its fruit garden."
In this Hadīth, Thawbān (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If a Muslim visits his sick fellow Muslim, he will remain in the Khurfah of Paradise tills he leaves returns." It was asked: "O Messenger of Allah, what the Khurfah of Paradise." He said: "Its fruit garden." In other words, he picks up from the fruits of Paradise for as long as he remains sitting with the sick person. He likens the reward obtained by a person who visits a sick one to someone reaping fruits. It was said that the intended meaning here is the path; that is he who visits a sick one and returns will be walking in a path leading him to Paradise. The first interpretation is more plausible, however. Sitting with a sick person differs from person to person and from one situation to another. Sometimes it is recommended to do so, and at other times it is not. If the sick person apparently enjoys the companionship of a certain visitor and would like him to stay longer, he is recommended to do so, and vice versa.