Indeed, Allah is more merciful to His servants than this is to her child
Authenticعَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: قَدِمَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ سَبْيٌ، فَإِذَا امْرَأَةٌ مِنَ السَّبْيِ قَدْ تَحْلُبُ ثَدْيَهَا تَسْقِي، إِذَا وَجَدَتْ صَبِيًّا فِي السَّبْيِ أَخَذَتْهُ، فَأَلْصَقَتْهُ بِبَطْنِهَا وَأَرْضَعَتْهُ، فَقَالَ لَنَا النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَتُرَوْنَ هَذِهِ طَارِحَةً وَلَدَهَا فِي النَّارِ؟» قُلْنَا: لاَ، وَهِيَ تَقْدِرُ عَلَى أَلَّا تَطْرَحَهُ، فَقَالَ: «لَلَّهُ أَرْحَمُ بِعِبَادِهِ مِنْ هَذِهِ بِوَلَدِهَا».
‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: Some captives were brought to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Then a woman from among the captives was seen pressing milk from her breast to feed [a child], and whenever she found a baby among the captives, she would take him, press him to her chest, and nurse him. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) then said to us: "Do you think this (woman) would throw her child into the fire?" We said: No, not if she can prevent throwing it. He (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, Allah is more merciful to His servants than this is to her child."
Explanation
Some captives from the tribe of Hawāzin were brought to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Among them was a woman searching for her child. Whenever she found a child, she would take him and breastfeed him due to the pain from milk accumulating in her breast. Eventually, she found her own son among the captives, so she took him, stuck him to her chest, and breastfed him. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) then said to his Companions: Do you think this woman would throw her child into the fire? We said: No, she would never do this willingly. He said: Indeed, Allah is more merciful to His Muslim servants than this woman to her child.
Benefits
- Allah's vast mercy towards His servants, and that He wants for them goodness, Paradise, and salvation from Hellfire.
- Benefiting from events and linking them to guidance and teaching.
- A believer should have good expectations of Allah and not despair, as long as he fears Allah and remains steadfast in his religion, for Allah Almighty is the Possessor of vast mercy.
Source · Agreed upon
From the Hadith Encyclopedia (hadeethenc.com).