Marwan bin Abi Dawood, may Allah have mercy on him, says that once I came to Hazrat Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, and said, "O Abu Hamza! The place is far, but our heart desires to come to visit you." Upon this, he raised his head and said, "I heard the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, say: Whoever visits a sick person, he dives into the ocean of Allah's mercy, and when he sits by the patient, Allah's mercy covers him." I asked, "O Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him! This is the ruling for the healthy person who visits the sick; what is the ruling for the patient?" The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "His sins are forgiven."