No Muslim is afflicted with a calamity and then says what Allah has commanded: {We belong to Allah, and to Him we will return} [Surat al-Baqarah: 156], O Allah, reward me in my calamity and replace it for me with something better, except that Allah replaces it for him with something better

Arabic text

عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ أُمِّ المؤْمنينَ رَضيَ اللهُ عنها أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ: «مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ تُصِيبُهُ مُصِيبَةٌ فَيَقُولُ مَا أَمَرَهُ اللهُ: {إِنَّا لِلهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ} [البقرة: 156]، اللَّهُمَّ أْجُرْنِي فِي مُصِيبَتِي، وَأَخْلِفْ لِي خَيْرًا مِنْهَا، إِلَّا أَخْلَفَ اللهُ لَهُ خَيْرًا مِنْهَا»، قَالَتْ: فَلَمَّا مَاتَ أَبُو سَلَمَةَ قُلْتُ: أَيُّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ؟ أَوَّلُ بَيْتٍ هَاجَرَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم، ثُمَّ إِنِّي قُلْتُهَا، فَأَخْلَفَ اللهُ لِي رَسُولَ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم.

Translation

’Umm Salamah, Mother of the Believers, (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: "No Muslim is afflicted with a calamity and then says what Allah has commanded: {We belong to Allah, and to Him we will return} [Surat al-Baqarah: 156], O Allah, reward me in my calamity and replace it for me with something better, except that Allah replaces it for him with something better." She said: When Abu Salamah passed away, I said: Who among the Muslims could be better than Abu Salamah, the first household to migrate to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)? Then I said it, and Allah replaced him for me with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).

Explanation

’Umm Salamah, Mother of the Believers, (may Allah be pleased with her) mentioned that she heard the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) once saying: No Muslim is afflicted with a calamity and then says what Allah has recommended for him to say: {We belong to Allah, and to Him we will return} [Surat al-Baqarah: 156], (O Allah, reward me) and grant me the reward for my patience (in my calamity), and compensate me (and replace it for me) with (something better); except that Allah replaces it for him with something better. She said: When Abu Salamah passed away, I said: Who among the Muslims could be better than Abu Salamah, the first household to migrate to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)? Then I said it with the support of Allah, and Allah replaced him for me with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), who is better than Abu Salamah.

Benefits

• The command to be patient at times of calamity and not to be discontent.
• Turning to Allah in supplication during adversities, for He alone provides compensation.
• It is necessary for the believer to comply with the command of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) even if the wisdom behind the command is not clear to him.
• All goodness lies in the believer's compliance with the Prophet's command.

Topics

• The Creed
• Virtues and Manners
• The Prophet's Family
• Merit of the Prophet's Family
• Heart-Softeners and Sermons
• Acts of Heart