Suffering Due to the Death of a Son

2. Abū ‘Alī al-Ash‘arī narrated from Muḥammad ibn Sālim, from Aḥmad ibn al-Naḍr, from ‘Amrū ibn Shimr, from Jābir, who reported from Abū Ja‘far عليه السلام, who said: "The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم 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.'"

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa and a number of our people from Sahl ibn Ziyad all from ibn Mehran who has said the following: “A man once wrote to abu Ja‘far, the second عليه السلام, 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)?”’

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father, from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah عليه السلام, 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).””’

5. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Isma’il ibn Mehran from Sayf ibn ‘Amirah who has said that abu ‘Abd al-Rahman from abu Basir who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah عليه السلام, say, ‘When Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, loves a servant, He takes away the soul of his most beloved son to Himself.’”

6. It is narrated from him (narrator of above Hadith) Isma’il ibn Mehran from Sayf ibn ‘Amirah from ‘Amr ibn Shimr from Jabir who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah عليه السلام, 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.”

7. It is narrated from him (narrator of above Hadith) from Isma’il ibn Mehran from ‘Amr ibn Shimr from Jabir who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far عليه السلام, 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.’”

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Muhammad ibn Isma’il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan all from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ibn Bukayr who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah عليه السلام, has said that the reward for a believing person for the death of his sons is paradise, whether he exercise patience or not.”

9. Ibn abu ‘Umayr has narrated from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Hajjaj who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah or abu al-Hassan عليه السلام, 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.’””

10. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Salmah ibn al-Khattab from Ali Sayf ibn ‘Amirah from his father from ‘Amr ibn Shimr from Jabir who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far عليه السلام, 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.”