Loss Of A Child

Al-Tirmidhi (942) narrated that Abu Sinaan said: I buried my son Sinaan, and Abu Talhah al-Khoolaani was sitting at the graveside. When I wanted to go out he took my hand and said, “Shall I not give you some glad tidings, O Abu Sinaan?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “Al-Dahhaak ibn ‘Abd al-Rahmaan ibn ‘Arzab narrated to me from Abu Moosa al-Ash’ari that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “When a person’s child dies, Allaah says to His angels, ‘You have taken the child of My slave.’ They say, ‘Yes.’ He says, ‘You have taken the apple of his eye.’ They say, ‘Yes.’ He says, ‘What did My slave say?’ They say, ‘He praised You and said “Innaa lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’oon (Verily to Allah we belong and unto Him is our return).’ Allah says, ‘Build for My slave a house in Paradise and call it the house of praise.’”

The world watched and prayed desperately this week as rescue workers in Morocco tried to rescue 5-year old Rayan, who had fallen more than 100ft deep into a dry well. Despite all of their best efforts over 5 days, little Rayan had passed away when they reached him. It is a tremendous tragedy, which has left millions of people heart broken, and we can’t even imagine the ordeal his parents are going through.

Losing a child is one of the toughest tests from Allah that anyone can face (may Allah ﷻ save us). The Prophet (ﷺ) was of the most tested of humans to ever have lived, and endured the death of five of his children died during his lifetime (may Allah be pleased with them all). But as the above hadith indicates, never will Allah (ﷻ) afflict His slave with a hardship, except that He will compensate him with something better. Even though He has taken a piece of a parent’s heart in this world, that same child will become their waseela (means) to Jannah, where they will be reunited for all eternity.

May Allah (ﷻ) give sabr (patience) to little Rayan’s parents, make him their means to attaining Jannah, and bring them together again in the Akhirah where their happiness will never end, Ameen.