The Third Point

The deceased child was a creature, a servant, and, with all his limbs and faculties, a work of art belonging to the Most Merciful Creator. He belonged to Allah, Who entrusted him to his parents for a short time as a companion and placed him under their care and upbringing. In turn, He appointed the parents as servants to that child and, as an immediate reward for their service, granted them the delightful feeling of shafqaCompassionate and unconditional love, such as a mother's love for her child..

Indeed, when the Most Merciful Creator—Who possesses nine hundred and ninety-nine of the thousand shares of that child—takes him back in accordance with His mercy and wisdom and thereby releases you from your duty of care, it is unbecoming for a believer, on account of his one apparent share, to wail in despair or grieve in a manner that resembles a complaint against the true Owner of all thousand shares. Such an attitude befits only the heedless and those who follow the path of misguidance.

The Fourth Point

If the world were eternal, if man were to remain in it forever, and if separation were truly everlasting, then grief, pain, and hopeless sorrow would indeed have their place. But since this world is only a guesthouse, both you and we shall go to the same place to which the deceased child has already gone.

Moreover, death is not reserved for your child alone; it is a road that every person must travel. And since separation is not everlasting, we shall meet again, both in ālam-i barzakhThe realm where the souls of the deceased await the Resurrection. and in the Hereafter.

Therefore, it is fitting to say: “The command belongs to Allah. He gives and He takes away. All praise belongs to Allah in every circumstance,” and to respond with patient gratitude.

The Fifth Point

ShafqaCompassionate and unconditional love, such as a mother's love for her child. is one of the most beautiful, subtle, pleasant, and delightful manifestations of Divine mercy. It is a luminous elixir and an even swifter means of attaining Allah than love itself. Whereas metaphorical and worldly love reaches true love only after great difficulty, shafqaCompassionate and unconditional love, such as a mother's love for her child. binds the heart to Allah directly, purely, and with ease.

Both father and mother love their child more than anything else in this world. When their child is taken from them, if they are sincere believers, they turn their faces away from the world and towards Munim-i HaqīqīAllah, the true Bestower of all kinds of blessings and favors.. They then say: “Since this world is transient, it is not worthy of becoming the object of one’s heart.” Thus they turn their attachment towards the place to which their child has gone and thereby attain great spiritual strength.

Those who live in heedlessness and follow the path of misguidance, however, cannot benefit from the glad tidings and happiness proclaimed by these five truths. Consider the following example and see how miserable their condition is.