shows mercy.” (1)

His statement, “It indicates his lack of certainty in Allah,” is a lie and a slander (2). The prophets experienced grief, yet this did not indicate any lack of certainty in Allah, as Allah relates concerning Jacob. It is established in an authentic hadith that when the Prophet’s son Abraham died, the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“The eyes shed tears, and the heart grieves, but we say only what pleases the Lord. Indeed, we grieve over you, O Abraham.” (3)

Allah also forbade His Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—to grieve, saying:

“And do not grieve over them.” [Surah al-Nahl: 127]

Likewise, his statement, “It indicates weakness and a lack of contentment with Allah’s decree and predestination,” is false, as were the similar claims discussed earlier.

[The Rāfidī’s remarks on Abu Bakr’s grief—may Allah be pleased with him—and the response]

Section.

As for his statement: “If grief were an act of obedience, it would be impossible for the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—to forbid it; and if it were an act of disobedience, then what they claimed was a virtue would be a vice.”