On one occasion, while Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was attending to the people, a man walked past while carrying his son on his shoulders. When Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) saw them, he was astonished and commented, “I have not seen a crow which resembles another crow more than this person (i.e. the son) resembles this person (i.e. the father).”
Hearing this, the father responded, “O Ameerul Mu-mineen! By Allah, his mother had given birth to him while she had already passed away.” Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) astonishingly remarked, “Woe unto you! How is that so?”
The man then went on to relate his story. He explained that he had left his home for a certain expedition while his wife was expecting a child. Before leaving, he said to her, “I entrust what is in your womb to Allah.” However, when he returned from the journey, he found out that she had passed away.
One night while he was sitting in Jannatul Baqee’, the graveyard of Madeenah Munawwarah, with a few of his cousins, he noticed a light by the graves, which looked like a lamp. He asked his cousins in amazement, “What is this?” They replied that they did not know what it was but they have been seeing this light every night by a certain woman’s grave.
This person thus went towards the grave holding an axe. On reaching there, he saw the grave open and noticed this child in the lap of his mother. When he drew closer to the grave, he heard a voice saying, “O the one who entrusted his Rabb (with a trust), take your trust! Had you entrusted his mother to Him (i.e. Allah Ta‘ala), you would have found her (alive as well).” He thus took the child and the grave closed.
(Man ‘Aasha ba’dal Maut – Ibnu Abid Dunya #19)
Lessons:
1. If a person places his trust and reliance on Allah Ta‘ala, though Allah Ta‘ala’s help may not come to him in such a dramatic manner as in this incident, however he will definitely enjoy the protection and assistance of Allah Ta‘ala in some way or the other. Allah Ta‘ala says in the Quraan Majeed, “Whosoever places his trust on Allah Ta‘ala, He will be sufficient for him.” (Surah Talaaq v3)
2. When this person entrusted his unborn child to Allah Ta‘ala, it is even more important and imperative in these challenging times that together with making the necessary effort on the upbringing of our children, we entrust them to Allah Ta‘ala. Just as Allah Ta‘ala protected his child in this amazing way, He will also take care of our children and protect them.