32 – Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“Allah, the Exalted, declares: ‘For My believing servant I have no recompense other than Paradise when I take from him the one he held most dear in this world and he then seeks his reward with Me.’ ” (Reported by al-Bukhari.)

[Explanation]

The Prophet ﷺ is narrating this statement from Allah, and the scholars call this category a ḥadīth qudsī— a sacred report whose wording comes from the Prophet ﷺ while its meaning is from Allah.

His words “the one he held most dear” (ṣafiyyuh) refer to a person whom someone singles out for special affection and close attachment—whether a child, brother, uncle, father, mother, or trusted friend. If Allah takes that beloved person and the believer counts the loss as an opportunity to earn reward, his only recompense will be Paradise.

The narration therefore proves the virtue of being patient when a loved one is taken from this world and of deliberately seeking the reward with Allah; such patience earns nothing short of entry into Paradise.

It also highlights Allah’s grace and generosity toward His servants: the dominion is His and the affair is His, and both you and your loved one belong to Him. Yet when He recalls your companion and you respond with patience and expectation of reward, He grants you this tremendous reward.

Among the benefits contained in the ḥadīth is the affirmation of Allah’s actions—here, His words “when I take from him.” Undoubtedly, Allah does whatever He wills, but we must acknowledge that everything He does is pure good; evil is never attributed to Allah at all,