11/2. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 918a — Dua During Calamity
What should be said at times of calamity?
Dua During Calamity Hadith of Umm Salama
Sahih Muslim : 918a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 918a
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ، وَابْنُ، حُجْرٍ جَمِيعًا عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ، - قَالَ ابْنُ أَيُّوبَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، - أَخْبَرَنِي سَعْدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ كَثِيرِ بْنِ أَفْلَحَ، عَنِ ابْنِ، سَفِينَةَ عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ، أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ تُصِيبُهُ مُصِيبَةٌ فَيَقُولُ مَا أَمَرَهُ اللَّهُ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ اللَّهُمَّ أْجُرْنِي فِي مُصِيبَتِي وَأَخْلِفْ لِي خَيْرًا مِنْهَا . إِلاَّ أَخْلَفَ اللَّهُ لَهُ خَيْرًا مِنْهَا " . قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا مَاتَ أَبُو سَلَمَةَ قُلْتُ أَىُّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ أَوَّلُ بَيْتٍ هَاجَرَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . ثُمَّ إِنِّي قُلْتُهَا فَأَخْلَفَ اللَّهُ لِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . قَالَتْ أَرْسَلَ إِلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَاطِبَ بْنَ أَبِي بَلْتَعَةَ يَخْطُبُنِي لَهُ فَقُلْتُ إِنَّ لِي بِنْتًا وَأَنَا غَيُورٌ . فَقَالَ " أَمَّا ابْنَتُهَا فَنَدْعُو اللَّهَ أَنْ يُغْنِيَهَا عَنْهَا وَأَدْعُو اللَّهَ أَنْ يَذْهَبَ بِالْغَيْرَةِ " .
Umm Salamah Narrated from:
Umm Salama reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: If any Muslim who suffers some calamity says, what Allah has commanded him," We belong to Allah and to Him shall we return; O Allah, reward me for my affliction and give me something better than it in exchange for it," Allah will give him something better than it in exchange.When Abu Salama died she said: What Muslim is better than Abu Salama whose family was the first to emigrate to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). I then said the words, and Allah gave me God's Messenger (ﷺ) in exchange.She said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent Hatib b. Abu Balta'a to deliver me the message of marriage with him. I said to him: I have a daughter (as my dependant) and I am of jealous temperament. He (the Holy Prophet) said: So far as her daughter is concerned, we would supplicate Allah, that He may free her (of her responsibility) and I would also supplicate Allah to do away with (her) jealous (temperament).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 918aIn-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 4USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1999
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 918a
This hadith teaches the dua to say when a Muslim suffers a calamity. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) taught: 'We belong to Allah and to Him shall we return; O Allah, reward me for my affliction and give me something better than it in exchange.' Umm Salama said these words when Abu Salama died, even though she wondered who could be better than him. Allah then gave her the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) in exchange through marriage. The hadith teaches a faith-filled response to loss: accept Allah's decree, ask for reward, and ask for a good replacement.
What we learn from this hadith
- A Muslim should say Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un during calamity.
- The dua asks Allah for reward in the affliction.
- The supplication also asks Allah for a better exchange.
- Umm Salama applied the dua when Abu Salama died.
