Brief Comments on Riyaadh al-Saaliheen #7

What to say at condolence

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

Shaikh al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:

When the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم came to know that the son of his daughter is dying, he صلى الله عليه وسلم sent a messenger towards her telling him to convey his greetings (the Salaam) and to say: 

إن لله ما أخذ وله ما أعطى وكل شيء عنده بأجل مسمى فلتصبر ولتحتسب

“Whatever Allaah takes is for Him and whatever He gives, is for Him, and everything with Him has a limited fixed term (in this world) and so be patient and hope for Allaah’s reward” [1]

Shaikh al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله commented: “In this (Hadeeth) there is evidence that this type of wordings for condolence is better, better than what some people say:

(أعظم الله أجرك، وأحسن عزاءك، وغفر لميتك)

Some of the scholars preferred these wordings, but the wordings which the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم preferred:

إن لله ما أخذ وله ما أعطى وكل شيء عنده بأجل مسمى فلتصبر ولتحتسب

is better, because the one who is afflicted is more satisfied upon hearing this .”

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[1] Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (1284, 5655, 6602, 6655, 7377, 7448) and Saheeh Muslim (1537). The complete Hadeeth is as follows:

Narrated Usaamah bin Zaid رضي الله عنه: The daughter of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم sent (a messenger) to the Prophet requesting him to come as her child was dying (or was gasping), but the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم returned the messenger and told him to convey his greeting to her and say: “Whatever Allaah takes is for Him and whatever He gives, is for Him, and everything with Him has a limited fixed term (in this world) and so she should be patient and hope for Allaah’s reward.” She again sent for him, swearing that he should come. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم got up, and so did Sa`d bin `Ubadah, Mu`aadh bin Jabal, Ubai bin Ka`b, Zaid bin Thaabit and some other men. The child was brought to Allaah's Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم while his breath was disturbed in his chest (the sub-narrator thinks that Usaamah added:) as if it was a leather water-skin. On that the eyes of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم started shedding tears. Sa`d said: “O Allaah’s Apostle! What is this?” He صلى الله عليه وسلم replied: “It is mercy which Allaah has lodged in the hearts of His slaves, and Allaah is merciful only to those of His slaves who are merciful (to others).”