Patience at the Time of Loss
| عن أبي زيد أسامة بن زيد بن حارثة مولى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وحبه وابن حبه رضي الله عنهما قال: أرسلت بنت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إن ابني قد احتضر فاشهدنا. فأرسل يقرئ السلام ويقول: «إن لله ما أخذ وله ما أعطى وكل شيء عنده بأجل مسمى فلتصبر ولتحتسب» فأرسلت إليه تقسم عليه ليأتينها. فقام ومعه سعد بن عبادة ومعاذ بن جبل وأبي بن كعب وزيد بن ثابت ورجال رضي الله عنهم. فرفع إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم الصبي فأقعده في حجره ونفسه تقعقع ففاضت عيناه. فقال سعد: يا رسول الله ما هذا؟ فقال: «هذه رحمة جعلها الله في قلوب عباده» وفي رواية: «إنما يرحم الله من عباده الرحماء» متفق عليه | Usāmah ibn Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: One of the daughters of the Prophet ﷺ sent a message to him saying that her child was in his final moments and asking him to come. The Prophet ﷺ sent back his greetings and said: “To Allah belongs what He takes and to Him belongs what He gives, and everything with Him has an appointed time. So be patient and seek reward from Allah.” She then insisted that he come, so the Prophet ﷺ stood up and went with several companions. When the child was brought to the Prophet ﷺ and placed in his lap while he was struggling to breathe, the eyes of the Prophet ﷺ filled with tears. Sa‘d asked, “O Messenger of Allah, what is this?” The Prophet ﷺ replied: “This is mercy that Allah has placed in the hearts of His servants.” And he added: “Allah shows mercy only to those of His servants who are merciful.” (Bukhari and Muslim) |
Vocabulary from the Hadith
احتضر
Approaching death; the final moments before a person passes away.
تقعقع
A rattling sound in breathing that occurs in the last moments of life.
The Incident of the Hadith
This hadith describes a deeply emotional moment in the life of the Prophet ﷺ.
One of his daughters sent a message asking him to come because her young child — the Prophet’s own grandson — was dying.
Before coming, the Prophet ﷺ sent words of comfort. His message contained a profound reminder:
«إن لله ما أخذ وله ما أعطى»
“To Allah belongs what He takes and to Him belongs what He gives.”
He then reminded her of another reality:
«وكل شيء عنده بأجل مسمى»
“Everything has an appointed time.”
These words teach that every blessing in life is temporary and every event occurs according to the decree of Allah.
However, the pain of a mother watching her child die was overwhelming, and she insisted that the Prophet ﷺ come.
Out of compassion, the Prophet ﷺ immediately stood up and went to her house with several companions.
When they arrived, the dying child was placed into the lap of the Prophet ﷺ. The child was struggling to breathe and the final moments of life were approaching.
Seeing this painful scene, the eyes of the Prophet ﷺ filled with tears.
One of the companions, surprised, asked:
“Messenger of Allah, what is this?”
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
«هذه رحمة جعلها الله في قلوب عباده»
“This is mercy that Allah has placed in the hearts of His servants.”
He then taught a universal principle:
«إنما يرحم الله من عباده الرحماء»
“Allah shows mercy to those of His servants who show mercy.”
Lessons and Reflections
Everything Ultimately Belongs to Allah
The Prophet ﷺ reminded his daughter:
«إن لله ما أخذ وله ما أعطى»
“To Allah belongs what He takes and to Him belongs what He gives.”
This statement teaches a fundamental truth about life.
Every blessing we enjoy — our family, health, wealth, and even our own lives — is a gift entrusted to us by Allah.
When something is taken away, it is not injustice. Rather, it is the return of something that ultimately belongs to its true Owner.
Recognizing this truth helps the believer face loss with patience and acceptance.
Every Event Has Its Appointed Time
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
«وكل شيء عنده بأجل مسمى»
“Everything has an appointed time.”
Life and death are not random occurrences. Every life has a fixed duration known only to Allah.
This reminder brings comfort to the believer. Even in moments of grief, the heart knows that nothing occurs outside the wisdom and decree of Allah.
Patience Does Not Mean the Absence of Tears
When the Prophet ﷺ held the dying child, his eyes filled with tears.
This moment teaches an important lesson.
Patience does not mean suppressing human emotion.
The Prophet ﷺ, who possessed the strongest faith and trust in Allah, still felt deep compassion and sorrow.
His tears did not contradict patience. Instead, they reflected the mercy and tenderness of his heart.
Mercy Is a Quality Loved by Allah
The Prophet ﷺ explained his tears by saying:
«هذه رحمة»
“This is mercy.”
Mercy is one of the most beautiful qualities Allah places in the hearts of people.
A compassionate heart feels the pain of others and responds with kindness and care.
The Prophet ﷺ then said:
«إنما يرحم الله من عباده الرحماء»
“Allah shows mercy to those who show mercy.”
This means that the way we treat others influences the mercy we receive from Allah.
Those who show kindness, compassion, and understanding toward others are more deserving of Allah’s mercy.
Living the Guidance of This Hadith
Life inevitably brings moments of loss and grief.
During such moments, the believer remembers the words of the Prophet ﷺ:
«إن لله ما أخذ وله ما أعطى»
This reminder helps calm the heart and restore perspective.
At the same time, the hadith teaches us to respond to the suffering of others with compassion.
When someone around us is grieving or facing hardship, our role is not merely to give advice but to offer kindness, patience, and presence.
Mercy toward others is one of the most powerful ways to earn the mercy of Allah.
A Moment for Reflection
When hardship enters our lives, we may ask ourselves:
Do we see these events as meaningless suffering, or do we recognize them as part of the wisdom and decree of Allah?
The believer experiences pain, but his heart remains connected to the One who controls every moment of life.