Allah has made these words—the formula of return, namely the afflicted person’s saying, “Indeed, we belong to Allah, and to Him we shall return”—a refuge and shelter for those struck by calamity and a safeguard for those undergoing trials. When the afflicted person takes refuge in these words, which encompass the meanings of goodness and blessing, his heart becomes tranquil, his soul finds peace, his mind is set at ease, and Allah compensates him with something better for his loss.
Muslim narrated in his Sahīh from Umm Salama—may Allah be pleased with her—that she said: I heard the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—say, “Whenever a servant is afflicted by a calamity and says, ‘Indeed, we belong to Allah, and to Him we shall return. O Allah, reward me for my calamity and compensate me with something better than it,’ Allah will reward him for his calamity and compensate him with something better than it.” She said, “When Abū Salama died, I said what the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—had instructed me to say, and Allah compensated me with someone better than him: the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace.”1 That is, Allah honored her by granting her marriage to the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace.
Whoever reflects upon these tremendous words—the formula of return—will find that they contain a powerful remedy for those afflicted by calamities. Indeed, they offer them the most effective and beneficial remedy, both immediately and in the ultimate outcome. How many praiseworthy effects, sound consequences, and tremendous results these words bring in this world and the Hereafter! Sufficient in this regard are the words of Allah Most High: “They are the ones upon whom are blessings and mercy from their Lord, and it is they who are rightly guided.” 2 Yet merely uttering them is not enough: one must also understand what they signify and fulfill their intended meaning, so that the servant may attain this gracious promise and tremendous reward. These words contain two fundamental principles. If the servant realizes them in both knowledge and practice, he will find consolation for his calamity and attain a tremendous reward and a blessed final return.
As for the first principle, it is that the servant firmly realize that he himself, his family, his wealth, and his children