A person must therefore remain patient, hope for reward, and understand that grief expressed through wailing and lamentation is of no benefit at all; the matter has already been decided. Imagine someone sets out on a journey and is involved in an accident—should he then say, “If only I had not travelled, I would have been safe; this would never have happened”? Impossible. Concerning such thinking Allah says: “Those who said to their brothers while they themselves stayed behind, ‘Had they obeyed us, they would not have been killed.’” And He says: “Say, then ward off death from yourselves, if you are truthful.” There is no escape from death. Your duty, therefore, is to be patient, seek your reward, and say: “Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed, to Him we shall return. O Allah, reward me for my affliction and replace it with something better.” Allah will reward you for your affliction and grant you something better in its place.

Take the story of Umm Salama. Her husband, Abu Salama—one of the people dearest to her—died, and she was heartsick over his departure. She had, however, heard the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, say: “When a servant is struck by a calamity and then says, ‘O Allah, reward me for my affliction and replace it with something better,’ Allah will reward him for that affliction and replace it with something better.” So she made that supplication: “O Allah, reward me for my affliction and replace it with something better,” while saying to herself, “Who could possibly be better than Abu Salama? He was my husband; he loved me and I loved him. Who could be better than Abu Salama?” She never doubted the Prophet’s statement—she was certain of its truth—but she still wondered who the replacement might be.

When her waiting period (ʿidda) ended, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, proposed to her. He was indeed better than Abu Salama. Thus Allah compensated her loss with something far superior, and the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, personally took care of her children; they now grew up under the care of the Messenger of Allah.