Permission to enter was prescribed only to prevent unwarranted glances and to allow the homeowner full discretion—he may admit whomever he wishes and bar whomever he wishes.

Another point: the kind of patience that earns praise is the patience displayed at the first shock of the calamity. In that moment a person restrains himself, seeks his reward with Allah, and remembers that whatever Allah takes belongs to Him and whatever He gives belongs to Him, and that everything is kept with Him for a fixed term.

A further benefit of this ḥadith is that weeping at the graveside runs counter to true patience; for that reason the Messenger of Allah ﷺ told her, “Fear Allah and be patient.”

Some people, when afflicted by the death of a loved one, begin to frequent the grave and weep there. This contradicts patience. We say to such a person: if you wish to benefit the deceased, then supplicate for him while you are at home; there is no need to keep returning to the grave. Repeated visits cause a person to picture the deceased constantly, never allowing the loss to fade from his mind. As a result, the calamity is never laid to rest, whereas it is better for one to occupy himself and forget the misfortune as much as he can. Allah alone grants success.