Illness, Death & Grief

Condolence and Patience as a Child Nears Death

Repetition guidance: 1x

إِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا أَخَذَ ، وَلَهُ مَا أَعْطَى ، وَكُلٌّ عِنْدَهُ بِأَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى، فَلْتَصْبِرْ وَلْتَحْتَسِبْ

Transliteration

Inna lillāhi mā akhadha, wa lahu mā aʿatā, wa kullun ʿindahu bi-ajalin musamman, fal-taṣbir wa-l-taḥtasib.

Translation

Verily to Allah belongs what He took and to Him belongs what He gave, and everything with Him has an appointed time; thus, be patient and hope for Allah’s reward.

Virtue and context

Usamah ibn Zayd (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) reported that a daughter of the Prophet ﷺ sent a messenger asking him to come because her child was dying. The Prophet ﷺ sent his greeting and told the messenger to remind her that whatever Allah takes belongs to Him, whatever He gives belongs to Him, and everything with Him has an appointed term. She should therefore remain patient and seek Allah’s reward. She sent again and swore that he should come, so the Prophet ﷺ went with Sad ibn Ubadah, Muadh ibn Jabal, Ubayy ibn Kab, Zayd ibn Thabit, and others. The child was brought to him struggling for breath, and the Prophet’s eyes shed tears. When Sad asked about those tears, the Prophet ﷺ explained that they were mercy Allah had placed in His servants’ hearts and that Allah shows mercy to those of His servants who are merciful.

Sources

Sahih al-Bukhari 1284 on Sunnah.com