Suffering Due to the Death of a Son

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that a son whom one sends (to the next life) is better than seventy sons who survive after one’s death, who have mounted their horses and are ready to march for the cause of Allah.”

"The Messenger of Allah (sw) entered upon Khadījah when her son Qāsim had died, and she was weeping. He asked her, 'What makes you weep?' She replied, 'My milk flowed, and so I wept.' He said, 'O Khadījah, would you not be pleased if on the Day of Resurrection, you come to the gate of Paradise and Qāsim is standing there, taking your hand and leading you into Paradise, placing you in its best place? This is for every believer. Verily, Allah the Almighty and Glorious is too wise and too generous to take away the fruit of a believer's heart and then punish them afterward, ever.'"

“A man once wrote to abu Ja‘far, the second (a.s.), complaining due to his suffering from the death of his sons and the intensity of his grief. The Imam wrote to him, ‘Do you know that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, chooses from the property and sons of the believing people the most valuable items so He will reward him in the same way (with most valuable reward)?”’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘When a son of a believing person dies - Allah knows what the servant (of Allah) may say - Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, says to His angels, “Have you taken the soul of the son of My servant out of his body?” They reply, “Yes, O Lord, we have done so.” He then asks, “What did My servant say?” They say, “He praised You and said, ‘We are for Allah and to Him we return.’” Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, then says, “So you took away the fruit of his heart and the delight of his eyes but he praised Me and spoke of his return to Me. (For his reward) build a house for him in paradise and call it the house of al-Hamd (praising Allah).””’

abu ‘Abd al-Rahman from abu Basir who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘When Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, loves a servant, He takes away the soul of his most beloved son to Himself.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if two sons of any Muslim die and he considers it a decision of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, as such and obediently agrees, they (his sons) will protect him against fire by the permission of Allah, most High.”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘When Tahir son of the Messenger of Allah passed away, the Messenger of Allah forbade Khadijah from weeping. She said, ‘Yes, O Messenger of Allah, I agree, but I noticed that my milk flowed out; thus I wept.’ He then said, ‘Would you not agree if you find him standing near the door of paradise and on seeing you, hold your hand and lead you into paradise to the most clean and fine ones therein?’ She then said, ‘Is that how it is?’ He said, ‘Allah is Most Majestic and Honorable. He does not take away the fruits of the heart of (His own) servant who exercises patience, praises Him and agrees with His decision. Allah due to His Glory and Honor does not cause him any suffering.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the reward for a believing person for the death of his sons is paradise, whether he exercise patience or not.”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah or abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, likes a servant whose son dies but he praises Allah. Allah says, “My angels, look to My servant. I took away his soul but he praises and thanks Me.’””

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Whoever considers the death of his sons as his savings with Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, they will protect him against fire by the permission of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious.”