[Machine] Amr ibn Bakr ibn Bakkār al-Qa'nabi narrated to me, Itha Mūjaši'a ibn 'Amr ibn Ḥassān al-Asadi narrated to me, Itha Layth ibn Sa'd narrated to me, from 'Āsim ibn 'Umar ibn Qatāda, from Maḥmūd ibn Labīd, from Mu'ādh ibn Jabal, that his son had died. So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ wrote to him to console him regarding his son. He wrote to him, "In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. From Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, to Mu'adh ibn Jabal: peace be upon you. Indeed, I praise to you Allah, whom there is no deity except Him. As for what follows, may Allah increase your reward, inspire you with patience, and grant us and you thankfulness. Verily, our souls, our wealth, and our families are from the blessed endowments of Allah, which He allows us to enjoy for a designated time and then takes back at an appointed time. And indeed, we ask Him for gratitude for what He has given us and patience when He tests us. And indeed, your son was from the blessed endowments of Allah, which He allowed you to enjoy with happiness and joy, and then He retrieved him from you with abundant reward, prayers, mercy, and guidance, if you seek reward in patience and do not let your grief diminish your reward, causing regret. And know that grief does not bring the dead back nor does it remove sorrow. And what has happened is as if you have bid farewell."
حَدَّثَنِي عَمْرُو بْنُ بَكْرِ بْنِ بَكَّارٍ الْقَعْنَبِيُّ ثنا مُجَاشِعُ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ حَسَّانٍ الْأَسَدِيُّ ثنا اللَّيْثُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ قَتَادَةَ عَنْ مَحْمُودِ بْنِ لَبِيدٍ عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ أَنَّهُ مَاتَ ابْنٌ لَهُ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يُعَزِّيهِ بِابْنِهِ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ إِلَى مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكَ فَإِنِّي أَحْمَدُ إِلَيْكَ اللهَ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَأَعْظَمَ اللهُ لَكَ الْأَجْرَ وأَلْهَمَكَ الصَّبْرَ وَرَزَقَنَا وَإِيَّاكَ الشُّكْرَ فَإِنَّ أَنْفُسَنَا وَأَمْوَالَنَا وَأَهْلِينا مِنْ مَوَاهِبِ اللهِ الْهَنِيئةِ وَعَوَارِيهِ الْمُسْتَوْدَعَةِ يُمَتِّعُ بِهَا إِلَى أَجْلٍ ويَقْبِضُهَا إِلَى وَقْتٍ مَعْلُومٍ وَإِنَّا نَسْأَلُهُ الشُّكْرَ عَلَى مَا أَعْطَى وَالصَّبْرَ إِذَا ابْتَلَى وَكَانَ ابْنُكَ مِنْ مَوَاهِبِ اللهِ الْهَنِيئةِ وَعَوَارِيهِ الْمُسْتَوْدَعَةِ مَتَّعكَ اللهُ بِهِ فِي غِبْطَةٍ وَسُرُورٍ وَقَبَضَهُ مِنْكَ بِأَجْرٍ كَثِيرٍ الصَّلَاةِ وَالرَّحْمَةِ وَالْهُدَى إِنِ احْتَسَبَتْهُ فَاصْبِرْ وَلَا يُحْبِطْ جَزَعُكَ أَجْرَكَ فَتَنْدمَ وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ الْجَزَعَ لَا يَرُدُّ مَيِّتًا وَلَا يَدْفَعَ حُزْنًا وَمَا هُوَ نَازِلٌ فَكَأَنْ قَدْ وَالسَّلَامُ