Since that is so, what is required when calamities occur is patience and saying, “Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return,” as Allah and His Messenger love.

Allah Most High says:

“Give glad tidings to the patient—those who, when afflicted by a calamity, say, ‘Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.’”

[Surah al-Baqarah: 156, 155].

In the Musnad of Imam Ahmad and the Sunan of Ibn Mājah, Fātimah bint al-Husayn narrated from her father, al-Husayn, that the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said:

“No Muslim is afflicted by a calamity and then remembers it, however long ago it occurred, and once again says, ‘Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return,’ without Allah granting him a reward equal to the reward he received on the day it befell him.” (1)

That al-Husayn and his daughter—who witnessed his slaying—narrated this hadith is a remarkable sign. The calamity of al-Husayn is precisely such a calamity as is remembered even after a long time. It is therefore prescribed (2) for a Muslim to say anew concerning it, “Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.”

As for the acts hated by Allah and His Messenger—slapping one’s cheeks, tearing one’s garments, and uttering the cries of the pre-Islamic Age of Ignorance—they are forbidden, and the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—disavowed whoever commits them. As related from him—peace and blessings be upon him—in the authentic [hadith] (3), he said:

“Whoever slaps the cheeks, tears the garments, and utters the cries of the pre-Islamic Age of Ignorance is not one of us.” (4)

“He also disavowed the wailing woman, the woman who shaves her head, and the woman who tears her clothes.” (5)

The wailing woman is one who raises her voice when calamity strikes; the woman who shaves is one who shaves her hair; and the woman who tears her clothes is one who rends her garments.