The reward for the parents who’ve lost a child

[ummtaalib]

Question

What is the reward for those parents whom one of their children have passed away in infancy?

 

Answer

There are numerous verses of the Holy Quran and authentic Hadith’s of Nabi (sallalahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) which mention the rewards and glad tidings for those who are patient and exercise sabr. If the parents of the child accept Allah Ta’ala’s decision without questioning his wisdom, and exercise patience, they too will insha Allah receive the rewards described for those who exercise patience when any type of calamity befalls.

 

In addition to the above, the following Hadiths explain the rewards that the parents (who have lost one child) will achieve.

 

1) Sayyiduna Abu Musa Al Ash’ari (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“When a person’s child passes away, Allah says to the Angels, ‘Have you’ll removed the soul of my servant’s child’!, When the Angels reply in the affirmative, Allah then asks, ‘Have you’ll taken away the soul of the joy of his heart’!. The Angels again reply in the affirmative. Allah then asks, what did my servant have to say? The Angels reply, ‘He praised you and recited ‘Inna Lillahi Wa inna Ilayhi Raji’un‘. Allah then says, Build for my servant a house in Jannah and call it ‘Baytul Hamd’ ”

 

(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 1021- Declared sound (hasan) by Imam Tirmidhi and Sahih Ibn Hibban, Hadith: 2948)

 

2) Mu’awiyah ibn Qurrah relates from his father, Qurrah ibn Iyas (radiyallahu ‘anhu) that a Sahabi would bring along his son and visit Nabi (sallalahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) asked him if he loves his son. He replied yes. Thereafter this Sahabi did not visit Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) for some time. Upon enquiry, Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was informed that his son had passed away. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) asked him, ‘Don’t you love [the fact that] that you will find him waiting for you at the doors of Jannah’. Another Sahabi then asked, ‘O Nabi of Allah, is this reward specifically for him or for all of us’? Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) replied, ‘Rather this reward is for all of you’

 

(Sahih Ibn Hibban, Hadith: 2947 and Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 1 pg. 384- Declared authentic by Imam Hakim, Hafiz Dhahabi and Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahumullah). Refer: Fathul Bari, under Hadith: 6424)

 

3) Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) reports that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

 

“Those who lose two children, Allah will enter them [the parents] into Jannah”, Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah (radiyallahu ‘anha) then asked, ‘What about those who lose one child only’? Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) replied, ‘O the one who has been inspired [to ask such questions], they too will receive the same reward’…”

(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 1062- Declared sound (hasan) by Imam Tirmidhi)

 

4) Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Nabi (sallalahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, Allah Ta’ala says:

 

“The only reward that I will grant my servant when he anticipates reward after his beloved [child/brother and all those people that are beloved to him] passes away is Jannah”

(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 6424)

 

Note: The above narrations mention the reward for those parents who have lost one child. There are numerous other narrations which discuss the reward for those parents who lose two, three or more children

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best

 

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

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