Riyad as-Salihin, 29

Usamah bin Zaid (May Allah be pleased with them) narrated:

The daughter of the Prophet (ﷺ) sent for him as her child was dying, but the Prophet (ﷺ) returned the messenger and sent her good wishes saying, "Whatever Allah takes away or gives, belongs to Him, and everything with Him has a limited fixed term (in this world), and so she should be patient and anticipate Allah's reward." She again sent for him adjuring him for the sake of Allah to come. The Messenger of Allah, accompanied with Sa'd bin 'Ubadah, Mu'adh bin Jabal, Ubayy bin Ka'b, Zaid bin Thabit and some other men went to see her. The child was lifted up to the Messenger of Allah while his breath was disturbed in his chest. On seeing that, the eyes of the Prophet (ﷺ) streamed with tears. Sa'd said, "O Messenger of Allah! What is this?" He replied, "It is compassion which Allah has placed in the hearts of His slaves, Allah is Compassionate only to those among His slaves who are compassionate (to others)". Another version says: Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Allah shows compassion only to those among His slaves who are compassionate". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن 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 ماهذا‏؟‏ فقال‏:‏ ‏"‏هذه رحمة جعلها الله تعالى في قلوب عباده‏"‏ وفى رواية ‏:‏ ‏"‏في قلوب من شاء من عباده وإنما يرحم الله من عباده الرحماء‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏ ‏.‏

References1 variant

In-Book Reference: Introduction, Hadith 29

Sharh · explanationclick to expand

Guidance from the Hadith: 1) It shows the obligation of patience at times of calamity and refraining from discontentment. 2) It displays the humility of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and his concern for the affairs of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). He would feel happy when they were happy and sad when they were sad. 3) It is permissible to cry out of mercy towards the afflicted but without wailing. If women gather and cry loudly in an exaggerated manner when someone dies, this is prohibited. 4) Merciful people who show mercy towards one another in the life of this world, Allah Almighty will grant them mercy in this life and in the Hereafter, because one of the means to obtain Allah’s mercy is to show mercy to one another.

Related hadiths12