Patience in the face of the various hardships of life, including the suffering caused by the loss of children and relatives, is highly rewarded in the Hereafter. The Holy Qur’an considers the reward for such patience to be immeasurable and without account:
“Indeed, the patient will be paid their reward without account.”[1]
In the culture of the Qur’an and the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), every good deed and righteous act has a specific reward, but according to this noble verse, the reward for the patience and endurance of the patient ones on the Day of Judgment is boundless and without limits, and only Allah knows the extent of it. As role models, the leaders of the faith not only displayed patience in the face of life’s bitter trials and tribulations and never complained or grumbled, but at a higher level, they always expressed gratitude to Allah during hardships and were content and pleased with His will and decree.
Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) had a son named Isma’il. He was the eldest son of the Imam and was a young man of great virtues and moral excellence, to the point that people thought he would succeed his father and lead the community after him. At the height of his intellect and virtues, Isma’il passed away. Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) did not leave his home upon hearing the news of his son’s death. Instead, he called his companions to his house for the burial rites and prepared food for them. His companions were surprised by the Imam’s calm demeanor and asked him about his sorrow for the loss of his son, who had died at the prime of his life. The Imam replied:
“What can I do? You have seen that it is mentioned in the story of the most truthful of the truthful (meaning the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him): Indeed, you will die, and they too will certainly die.”[2]
This means that death is the inevitable decree of Allah, even for the purest and most righteous. Through this, the Imam taught his companions that despite the bitterness of losing a child, he was content with Allah’s will.
Imam (peace be upon him) had another son who often ran ahead of him in the streets of Medina with great agility. One day, a piece of food got stuck in this son’s throat, and he passed away before the Imam’s eyes. The Imam wept for him, but did not utter a cry of despair. He simply addressed his son’s body, saying:
“If you are taken, I remain; if you are afflicted, I am safe.” Then, he turned to the women who were wailing loudly and swore them to stop their cries. They then carried the body to its resting place, and the Imam said: “Glory be to the One who takes our children, and we do not increase anything but love for Him (Allah).”
After burying him, the Imam (peace be upon him) said: “We are a people who, when we love someone, we ask Allah for whatever we desire for them, and He gives it to us. If Allah wishes something for someone we love, which we may not like, we are content with His will.” (This means that whatever we wish for our loved ones, we ask Allah for, and we are also content with the hardships and trials that He chooses for them, because we know that these challenges are His will.)
(Source: “Guides on the Path of Light – The Life of Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq”, by Seyed Mohammad Taqi Modarresi)
Footnotes:
[1] Qur’an, Surah Az-Zumar, verse 10
[2] Qur’an, Surah Az-Zumar, verse 3