The Prophet (ﷺ) listed the rights of a Muslim over a Muslim as five: returning the greeting, visiting the sick, following the funeral, accepting an invitation, and responding to one who sneezes (al-Bukhari 1240); in Muslim's wording they are six, adding giving sincere advice (naṣīḥah) when it is sought (Muslim 2162). The majority of scholars hold that visiting the sick is a communal obligation (farḍ kifāyah) — if some Muslims carry it out the rest are excused — while it becomes strongly emphasised, and in the view of many individually binding, for close relatives and neighbours; al-Bukhari himself titled a chapter "The obligation of visiting the sick." The reward is great: the Prophet (ﷺ) said that one who visits a sick person remains in the harvest of Paradise (khurfat al-jannah) until he returns (Muslim 2568). So it is not a mere social courtesy but a right of brotherhood.
Q&A · Character
Is visiting the sick obligatory, and what are the rights a Muslim has over another Muslim?
Evidence — the daleel
Sahih al-Bukhari 1240 ṢaḥīḥSahih Muslim 2162 ṢaḥīḥSahih Muslim 2568 Ṣaḥīḥ
On deen2u
Informational, not a personal fatwa. Consult a qualified scholar for rulings on your situation.