Losing a loved one is a heavy burden that every human being will experience at some point in life. Every soul that enters the realm of the living will inevitably depart from it as part of a divinely ordained plan. For the one who is dying, there is ultimately nothing left but to submit to Allah’s will. This is a test they face alone, and their death marks a rebirth, ushering them into the life of the barzakh, a state of waiting until the Day of Judgment. As far as those left behind, however, their death is far more difficult to accept. The weight of loss falls heavily on the hearts of the living, who must now mourn the departure of someone they love. Allah, the Almighty, has already warned us of this trial in the Quran when He says:
“Every soul will taste death. And We test you ˹O humanity˺ with good and evil as a trial, then to Us you will ˹all˺ be returned.” (Quran, 21:35)
Even with this knowledge, nothing truly prepares us for losing a loved one. No amount of understanding or anticipation can fully soften the pain when that moment arrives. Often, there is little that can be done to console someone who is grieving beyond offering presence, patience, and sincere condolences. For children, this period can be especially confusing as they struggle to make sense of loss with limited emotional and spiritual tools. While there are established guidelines for providing pastoral care during times of grief, it is also beneficial to turn to the Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. By reflecting on how he faced loss, we find reassurance and guidance that can help us support our families through their own experiences of grief.
The Prophets and Grief
The prophets and messengers of Allah were among the most honored human beings to walk the face of the Earth, yet they were also tested with immense hardship. They experienced loss just as the rest of humankind does, sometimes losing those closest to them, including spouses, children, and their most devoted supporters. Prophet Nuh, peace be upon him, lost his own son during the flood when he chose disbelief. Prophet Yaqub, peace be upon him, endured the disappearance of his beloved child for years, not knowing whether he was alive or dead. Throughout this painful ordeal, he turned only to his Lord, complaining of his sorrow and asking for “beautiful patience” (Quran, 12:48, 12:83). Prophet Lut, peace be upon him, was commanded to leave his wife behind as his town was overturned by the punishment of Allah. Many other prophets faced trials marked by profound loss and heartbreak.
Despite the countless hardships they endured, the prophets remained steadfast in their mission of calling people to pure monotheism, and their faith never wavered. For this reason, it can be especially beneficial when comforting our families to encourage them to turn to the Quran for strength and reassurance. Likewise, the Seerah, the biography of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, offers consolation to those grieving by recounting the many losses he experienced throughout his life and how he overcame them. By reflecting on his humanity, empathy, and resilience, we may find our own patience and peace.
Living Through Loss: The Prophetic Example
The loss of his parents
The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, never met his father, Abdullah, who passed away before his birth. He entered the world as an orphan, carrying the absence of a father from the very beginning of his life. Although this loss occurred before he could form memories, it was nonetheless a reality that shaped his early experiences and relationships.
As a child, he then endured the loss of his mother, Aminah, the most significant figure in his young life. Losing one’s mother is a painful trial at any age, and for a child, it leaves an enduring imprint on the heart. These early experiences of loss undoubtedly shaped the Prophet’s compassion, tenderness, and deep empathy for others throughout his life.
The loss of his grandfather
After the passing of his mother, the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was taken into the care of his grandfather, ‘Abd al-Muttalib, who became a source of affection and protection. He made a special effort to shower his grandson with the love and security he had been missing as an orphan. Sadly, this period of comfort was also short-lived. His grandfather passed away during Muhammad’s childhood, marking yet another overwhelming loss in his young life. For a child who had already endured so much separation, this loss was especially heavy.
The loss of his uncle
After his grandfather’s death, the young Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, came under the care of his uncle, Abu Talib. Abu Talib cared for his nephew as though he were his own son. He taught him the ways of trade and took him along on caravan journeys, offering practical and moral guidance. As he grew, the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, became known among the people of Mecca as al-Amin, “the Trustworthy,” a reflection of his honesty and upright character.
At the age of twenty-five, he received a marriage proposal from Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, a respected widow, and together they built a family. At forty years old, he was commissioned as a prophet, a turning point that transformed his life and placed him at the center of increasing hostility. When the Quraish of Mecca began their boycott of the Muslims, those who stood by the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, suffered alongside him. Among them was his uncle Abu Talib.
By this time, an elderly man, Abu Talib, endured immense pressure and hardship for protecting his nephew. He eventually fell ill and passed away, likely weakened by the severe treatment he received from his own tribesmen. This moment marked one of the most painful losses in the Prophet’s life, both personally and socially.
The loss of his wife
Around the same period in which the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, lost his uncle Abu Talib, he also endured the loss of his greatest supporter, his wife Khadijah, may Allah be pleased with her. She bore him six children and was the first person to believe in his prophethood. Khadijah supported Islam and the early believers with her wealth, her influence, and her firm faith. More than that, she provided the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, with reassurance and emotional strength during the most vulnerable moments of his prophetic mission.
Khadijah’s death left a huge void in Prophet Muhammad’s life, peace and blessings be upon him. He continued to mourn her for years afterward, often speaking of her virtues with deep affection. His enduring grief was so evident that it occasionally stirred jealousy among his later wives, even though Khadijah had passed away long before. Numerous narrations make clear that her death deeply affected him, leaving him widowed at a time when he was already carrying immense personal and communal burdens. This period came to be known as the “Year of Sorrow.”
The loss of his children
None of the Prophet’s wives, other than Khadijah, bore him children. Although he was blessed with children through her, he experienced the loss of nearly all of them during his lifetime. His sons passed away in infancy, and his daughters died during his life as well, with the exception of Fatimah, may Allah be pleased with her, who passed away only six months after his death. According to authentic narrations, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was aware that Fatimah would not live long after him, meaning he was not spared the sorrow of anticipating the loss of his last surviving child (Sahih Bukhari 3715, 3716).
Later in his life, when he was granted a son through Mariyah al-Qibtiyyah, the child also died in infancy. The pain of this loss is recorded in hadith, where we see the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, openly grieving in the presence of his companions (Sahih Bukhari 1303). Through these moments, we learn that tears and sorrow are not signs of weak faith, but natural expressions of love and mercy placed in the human heart.
The loss of his companions
Many of the companions passed away during the Prophet Muhammad's lifetime, peace and blessings be upon him. Among them were close friends, trusted advisors, and devoted supporters. Some died as a result of persecution, enduring torture and hardship because of their commitment to Islam. It is difficult to imagine the weight this placed on the Prophet’s heart, knowing that those he loved were suffering and dying because they had responded to his call to worship Allah alone.
Lessons Learned
As the saying goes, there is often a silver lining around even the darkest clouds. When reflecting on the many losses the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, endured throughout his life, we find the guidance we desperately need to make sense of this world. Through his example, we learn how to live through the loss of parents, grandparents, spouses, children, relatives, and close friends with faith, dignity, and patience. When grief feels overwhelming, the Seerah reminds us that we are not alone in our pain. Allah sent His Messenger as a mercy and living example, showing us how to endure even the most painful trials without losing hope or trust in Him. The Prophet’s life reassures us that sorrow is part of the human experience, but it is never without purpose.
Allah, the Exalted, offers this reassurance and loving counsel:
“We will certainly test you with a touch of fear and famine and loss of property, life, and crops. Give good news to those who patiently endure—who say, when struck by a disaster, ‘Surely to Allah we belong and to Him we will ˹all˺ return.’” (Quran, 2:155–156)
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