Chapter 9.2. Expressing Condolences Is A Courtesy And A Duty

Parting among loved ones is one rule of Allah in his creations. Al-hafiz al-Munziri reported a Hadith, 'love whoever you will and you will part.' along this same rule, poets said:

We are but guests with our families, staying for a while, and leaving them. Wealth and families are but trusts.
Inevitably, one day trusts will be recalled.
The sons of this life will all part
to meet together again in the hereafter.

One wise poet listed eight stages we must all pass through. No one will be spared of these:

Happiness and sorrow; gathering and parting; difficulties and easiness; and illness and good health.

Another poet said

Make perseverance your friend, and leave painful sorrow you are not alone
everyone lost, or will lose a loved one.

If a relative or a close friend of one of your relatives or friends dies, hasten to offer your condolences. You owe your relatives, friends and Muslim brothers the moral obligation of alleviating their plight. If you can, you should attend the funeral and the burial at the cemetery. Aside from being a highly rewarding gesture of sympathy, it could be an effective and stern admonition, and a lesson reminding you of the inevitability of death.

While alive, your life had lessons, reminders and admonition today, your death gives me the most important lesson.

Al-Bukhari and Muslim reported that the prophet (pbuh) said: 'a Muslim owes his Muslim brethren five gestures: returning a greeting, visiting the ill, and attending their funeral...' Imam Ahmad reported that the prophet said: 'visit the sick and follow the procession of funerals; you will remember the hereafter.'

Condolences is to alleviate the sense of grieving that confront the family of the deceased. This is achieved by encouraging them to be composed while trusting in Allah's promise of great reward. Allah said in Surat al-Baqarah 'and give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere; who say, when afflicted with a disaster, 'truly! To Allah we belong and truly, to him is our return.' they are those on whom descend blessings and receive the mercy of their lord, and it they who are the guided ones.' condolence is done by praying for the deceased to be helped and pardoned, since they will receive the benefit of such prayers. Condolence is a sincere expression of sympathy and to share the sorrow of these stressful moments. Ibn Majah and Baihaqi reported, with a fair authority, a Hadith: 'a Muslim who consoles other Muslims suffering from a calamity will be awarded a dress of dignity by Allah on the day of judgment.'

• Breaking Unpleasant News
• Expressing Condolences And Sympathy

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