29 – It is narrated from Abū Zayd Usāmah ibn Zayd ibn Ḥārithah, the freedman of the Messenger of Allah, his beloved and the son of his beloved—may Allah be pleased with them both—who said:

One of the Prophet’s daughters sent word to him: “My son is at the point of death; come so that you may be present.” He sent back conveying his greetings of peace and saying, “To Allah belongs whatever He takes, and to Him belongs whatever He gives; everything with Him is for an appointed term. Let her be patient and seek her reward.”

She then sent again, adjuring him by oath to come to her. He rose and set out accompanied by Saʿd ibn ʿUbādah, Muʿādh ibn Jabal, Ubayy ibn Kaʿb, Zayd ibn Thābit, and other men—may Allah be pleased with them. The child was lifted up to the Messenger of Allah, who placed him in his lap while the boy’s breath was rattling (taqaʿqaʿ) in his chest. The Prophet’s eyes overflowed with tears. Saʿd said, “Messenger of Allah, what is this?” He replied, “This is mercy that Allah has placed in the hearts of His servants.” In another wording: “…in the hearts of whomever He wills among His servants. Allah shows mercy to His merciful servants.” (Agreed upon.)

The expression taqaʿqaʿ means that the child’s chest was moving and trembling.

[Explanation]

The author—may Allah the Exalted have mercy on him—relates, on the authority of Abū Zayd Usāmah ibn Zayd ibn Ḥārithah—may Allah be pleased with them both. Zayd ibn Ḥārithah had been a servant; Lady Khadījah—may Allah be pleased with her—gave him as a gift to the Messenger of Allah, who then set him free, so he became his freedman (mawlā). Because of the Prophet’s special affection for him he was called “the Beloved of the Messenger of Allah,” and his son shared that distinction; thus Usāmah was “his beloved and the son of his beloved.” He went on to mention that one of the Prophet’s daughters sent a messenger to him