21/13. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 1843 — The Prophet's Mercy in Grief
Weeping for the Deceased
Hadith About the Prophet's Compassion in Grief
Sunan an-Nasai : 1843
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 1843
أَخْبَرَنَا هَنَّادُ بْنُ السَّرِيِّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ السَّائِبِ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسِ، قَالَ لَمَّا حُضِرَتْ بِنْتٌ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَغِيرَةٌ فَأَخَذَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَضَمَّهَا إِلَى صَدْرِهِ ثُمَّ وَضَعَ يَدَهُ عَلَيْهَا فَقَضَتْ وَهِيَ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَبَكَتْ أُمُّ أَيْمَنَ فَقَالَ لَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا أُمَّ أَيْمَنَ أَتَبْكِينَ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عِنْدَكِ " . فَقَالَتْ مَا لِي لاَ أَبْكِي وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَبْكِي فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنِّي لَسْتُ أَبْكِي وَلَكِنَّهَا رَحْمَةٌ " . ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " الْمُؤْمِنُ بِخَيْرٍ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ تُنْزَعُ نَفْسُهُ مِنْ بَيْنِ جَنْبَيْهِ وَهُوَ يَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ " .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
When a young daughter of the Messenger of Allah was dying, the Messenger of Allah picked her up and held her to his chest, then he put his hand on her, and she died in front of the Messenger of Allah. Umm Ayman wept and the Messenger of Allah said 'Oh Umm Ayman, do you weep while the Messenger of Allah is with you?'She said: 'Why shouldn't I weep when the Messenger of Allah is weeping. So the Messenger of Allah said "Verily, I am not weeping. Rather it is compassion.' Then the Messenger of Allah said: 'The believer is fine whatever the situation; even when his soul is being pulled from his body and he praises Allah, the Mighty and Sublime"'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1843In-book reference : Book 21, Hadith 26English translation : Vol. 3, Book 21, Hadith 1844
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 1843
This hadith about the Prophet's compassion in grief shows that tears can come from mercy, not from rejection of Allah's decree. Ibn Abbas narrated that a young daughter of the Messenger of Allah was dying. The Prophet held her to his chest, placed his hand on her, and she died before him. Umm Ayman wept. When the Prophet spoke to her, she replied that she wept because the Messenger of Allah was also weeping. He explained that his tears were compassion. He then said that the believer is fine in every situation, even when the soul is being pulled from the body, while praising Allah. The message is gentle, honest, and deeply faith-filled.
What we learn from this hadith
- Tears of compassion are different from rejecting Allah's decree.
- The Prophet showed tenderness toward a dying child.
- A believer can praise Allah even in a hard final moment.
- Grief and faith can be present together.
