11/2. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 918b — Reward in Affliction
What should be said at times of calamity?
Reward in Affliction Dua Hadith
Sahih Muslim : 918b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 918b
وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عُمَرُ بْنُ كَثِيرِ بْنِ أَفْلَحَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ سَفِينَةَ، يُحَدِّثُ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ، زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم تَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ تُصِيبُهُ مُصِيبَةٌ فَيَقُولُ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ اللَّهُمَّ أْجُرْنِي فِي مُصِيبَتِي وَأَخْلِفْ لِي خَيْرًا مِنْهَا إِلاَّ أَجَرَهُ اللَّهُ فِي مُصِيبَتِهِ وَأَخْلَفَ لَهُ خَيْرًا مِنْهَا " . قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا تُوُفِّيَ أَبُو سَلَمَةَ قُلْتُ كَمَا أَمَرَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَخْلَفَ اللَّهُ لِي خَيْرًا مِنْهُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
Umm Salamah Narrated from:
Umm Salama, the wife of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: If any servant (of Allah) who suffers a calamity says:" 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 reward for affliction, and would give him something better than it in exchange. She (Umm Salama) said: When Abu Salama died. I uttered (these very words) as I was commanded (to do) by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). So Allah gave me better in exchange than him. i. e. (I was taken as the wife of) the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 918bIn-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 5USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 2000
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 918b
This hadith gives a clear supplication for times of pain and loss. Umm Salama reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said that when a servant suffers a calamity and says, '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,' Allah gives reward for the affliction and gives something better in exchange. Umm Salama said these words after Abu Salama died, as the Prophet had commanded her, and she was given the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) in marriage. The focus is patience, dua, and trust in Allah.
What we learn from this hadith
- The believer responds to calamity by returning the matter to Allah.
- The dua asks for reward within the affliction.
- The dua asks Allah to grant a better exchange.
- Umm Salama followed the Prophet's instruction after Abu Salama died.
