Meditation on Grief in the Life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, contributed by Teslimah Ojifinni (2025)
He names him after the Prophet Ibrahim and loves this child.
The Prophet PBUH was known to carry Ibrahim (AS) often carrying him to his houses, visiting other people, to the Masjid. One day, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is called to the house of his son’s wet nurse’s husband. Ibrahim, about 16 months old, he (PBUH) is told, is dying. He holds his son, kissed him, and smelled his hair. Imagine that—just focus on your own breath for a moment. He watches the breaths of Ibrahim (AS) slow down before leaving his body. And what does he say? What would you say?
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the best of all mankind, expressed his deep sorrow and pain. He was not immune to the weight of loss. He lost so much—his father, his mother, his grandfather, his uncle, his wife Khadijah (RA), and his children. And yet, in the face of all this grief, he never lost his faith in Allah (SWT). His words, “The eyes shed tears, and the heart grieves, but we do not say except that which pleases our Lord,” show us that even the most profound grief does not negate faith. The Prophet (PBUH) teaches us that it is okay to grieve, to feel sorrow, to cry. But he also teaches us that faith and grief can coexist. Faith doesn’t erase pain; it allows space for it while guiding us through.
Through Allah’s mercy, the Prophet (PBUH) teaches us that loss is not the end. The love we have for those we’ve lost is never wasted. Allah’s mercy encompasses all, and through His grace, we can be reunited with those we grieve. As the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, “A person will be with those whom they love.” This gives us hope: that through our love and grief, we are still connected to those we’ve lost, and with Allah’s mercy, that connection will never be severed.
Grief hurts—it does not feel good, and it’s not something faith is meant to erase. But knowing that Allah is with us, that He is the One who loves us more than anyone else could, is everything. In times of grief, we must place our trust in Him, knowing that He will guide us through it. Faith doesn’t make the grief disappear—it teaches us how to navigate it, how to trust that Allah’s wisdom and mercy are greater than our pain.
In the depths of grief, we may feel as though nothing can fill the emptiness. But it is through faith that we find peace, knowing that our Creator understands our pain more deeply than we ever could. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ did not suppress his grief, but he also did not let it cloud his trust in Allah. He allowed space for his emotions, showing us that it is okay to mourn, to feel sadness. But he also taught us that our faith must remain strong, for Allah’s mercy is greater than any sorrow we face.The Prophet ﷺ’s tears were not signs of weakness, but of love. And in his pain, he trusted in Allah’s wisdom and mercy. “We do not say except that which pleases our Lord.” This is the core of faith—the belief that Allah’s decree is for our good, even when it hurts.
Grief is not a vacuum that pulls us under. There is light in Allah (SWT), and through His mercy, we are never truly alone. Grief hurts, but knowing that God is here, holding us through it, is not just important—it is everything. In that, we find security, love, and grace for ourselves and each other.