The Beloved and Blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said: When a son of a person passes away, Allah Almighty asks angels, ‘You have captured the soul of My bondman’s son?’ They respectfully reply, ‘Yes.’ Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ then says, ‘You have plucked the fruit of his heart?’ They respectfully say, ‘Yes.’ Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ then says, ‘What did My bondman say?’ They humbly say, ‘حَمِدَكَ وَاسْتَرْجَعَ, i.e. He praised You and recited اِنَّا لِلہِ وَاِنَّآ اِلَیْہِ رٰجِعُوْنَ.’ So Allah Almighty says, ‘اِبْنُوْا لِعَبْدِیْ بَيْتًا فِی الْجَنَّةِ وَسَمُّوْہُ بَيْتَ الْحَمْدِ i.e. Make a house in Paradise for this bondman of Mine and name it Bayt-ul-Hamd’. (Tirmizi, vol. 2, pp. 313, Hadees 1023)
Palaces in Paradise named after deeds
A renowned Muhaddis and a great thinker of the Ummah Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه has stated: These questions and answers will take place with those angels who take the soul of the deceased to the Divine court. In actual fact, this is aimed at making them witnesses; otherwise, the Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is All-Knower and All-Aware. Remember! Some palaces have already been made in Paradise by the command of the Lord and some are made when a person performs deeds. The above Hadees mentions the second type of the palace. In the world, houses are named after the professions of their owners; but the palaces in Paradise are named after deeds. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 2, pp. 507)
Patience with demise of children and reward for it
There is a huge reward for having patience with the demise of children. Grieving over the demise of a non-pubescent child and shedding tears for him are caused by affection and compassion for offspring. This is even proved by Sunnah. When the beloved son of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, Sayyiduna Ibraheem رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ, passed away, tears began to flow from his blessed eyes out of sympathy. (Bukhari, vol. 1, pp. 441, Hadees 1303) Therefore, instead of wailing and weeping violently over the demise of a non-pubescent child, one should have patience and express thanks for the glad tidings of entry into Paradise.
1 The Greatest and Noblest Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said: Those three children of a person who pass away before reaching puberty will become a very strong barrier for him in the way to Hell. Sayyiduna Abu Zar رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ respectfully said: Two children of mine have gone ahead (i.e. passed away), so the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: Two children will also (become barrier [in the way to Hell]). Sayyiduna Ubay Bin Ka’b رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ humbly said, ‘I have sent ahead one child of mine’, so the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: And one child will also [serve the same purpose].(Ibn-e-Majah, vol. 2, pp. 272, Hadees 1606)
2 Sayyiduna Abu Salmah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ narrated that the Greatest and Noblest Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم gestured with his blessed hand about five things which would be the heaviest on the Balance (1) سُبْحٰنَ اللّٰە (2) اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه (3) لَآاِلٰەَ اِلَّاﷲ (4) اَللّٰەُ اَکْبَر (5) The pious child of a Muslim dies and he shows patience with it. (Ibn-e-Habbaan, vol. 2, pp. 100, Hadees 830, summarised)
3 A person used to come to the court of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم along with his son. He صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked him, ‘Do you love him?’ The person humbly said, ‘May the Lord love you as I love him [i.e. the son!].’ After some days, the Beloved and Blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم did not find the child, so he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked, ‘What has happened to the son of [the person] so-and-so?’ Blessed companions respectfully replied, ‘O Prophet of Allah! That (child) has passed away.’ He صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said to the father of the child (while comforting him), ‘Are you not pleased that you find this child of yours at any door of Paradise which you go to and that he begins to open the door for you?’ It has also been stated in ‘Musnad Imam Ahmad’: A person respectfully said, ‘O Prophet of Allah! Is this specific to him or it is for all of us?’ The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘For all of you.’ (Nasa’ee, pp. 318, 319, Hadees 1867, Musnad Ahmad, vol. 5, pp. 304, Hadees 15595)
Reward for reciting اِنَّا لِلّٰہِ وَاِنَّآ اِلَیْہِ رٰجِعُوْنَ
The Prophet of mankind, the Peace of our heart and mind, the most Generous and Kind صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said, ‘If anyone is afflicted with any trouble and says ‘اِنَّا لِلّٰہِ وَاِنَّآ اِلَیْہِ رٰجِعُوْنَ’ while thinking of his trouble, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ will bestow upon him the same reward granted to him the day when he was afflicted with the trouble; no matter the trouble may have occurred a long time ago.’ (Ibn-e-Majah, vol. 2, pp. 268, Hadees 1600)
One should have patience with trials and tribulations
Dear Islamic brothers! Remember! One has to face trials and tribulations on many occasions throughout his life. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ tests His bondmen in many ways. Sometimes, a person suffers from disease; sometimes, he faces shortage of wealth and death of beloved ones; at times, he feels fear from his enemy; sometimes, calamities and adversities befall him; and sometimes, he is confronted with new mischiefs. Particularly, practicing and preaching religion is the path which is full of ordeals and treading this path distinguishes between an obedient and a disobedient one and between those who have true love and those who only claim to have love. Most people from the nation of Sayyiduna Nuh عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام did not believe in him; Sayyiduna Ibraheem عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام was put into fire; he عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام also became prepared to sacrifice his son; Sayyiduna Ayyub عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام was made to suffer from disease; he عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام also lost his offspring and wealth; Sayyiduna Musa عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام migrated from Egypt; Sayyiduna Isa عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام endured sufferings; and other blessed Prophets عَـلَـيْهِمُ السَّلَام were even martyred. Indeed all of these are the examples of ordeals and patience. In fact, by enduring these ordeals and by having patience with them, these great individuals have set excellent examples for Muslim to follow. Therefore, when afflicted with any trial or tribulation, a Muslim should have patience, remaining pleased with the Will of the Lord without indulging in impatience. (Tafseer Siraat-ul-Jinaan, part 2, Surah Al-Baqarah, Taht-al-Ayah 155, vol. 1, pp. 250)
Two rewards for patience with trouble
A leading scholar of Shari’ah Mufti Amjad Ali A’zami رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه has stated: Having patience with trouble earns you two rewards; one for trouble and the other for patience. And wailing and weeping violently result in the loss of both rewards. (Bahar-e-Shari’at, vol. 1, pp. 852)
Consequence of impatience with trouble
At another place, the respected author of ‘Bahar-e-Shari’at’ stated: When afflicted with (any trouble or problem or) disease, even an extremely heedless person remembers Allah Almighty very much, repenting and seeking forgiveness. This is quite obvious and everyone knows it. Those who have high ranks in the Divine court even welcome trouble (as ordinary people welcome any personal benefit). As for the people like us, we should at least have patience and remain calm (when confronted with any trial and tribulation). We should not lose the easily attainable reward by wailing and weeping violently. And everyone also knows that adversity [trouble] cannot be overcome by impatience. Therefore, losing this reward for patience (as mentioned by Ahadees) is double adversity. (Bahar-e-Shari’at, vol. 1, pp. 799)
Mushkilaun mayn day sabr ki taufeeq
Apnay gham mayn faqat ghula Ya Rab
O Gracious Lord! Bless us with great patience when we are afflicted with adversity!
اٰمِیْن بِجَاہِ النَّبِیِّ الْاَمِیْن صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم
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