Visitation by the Holy Prophet (sa) Upon His Illness
Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (ra) narrates:
“When Hazrat Sa‘d (ra) bin Ubadah fell ill, the Holy Prophet (sa) went to visit him along with Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Auf (ra), Hazrat Sa‘d bin Abi Waqas (ra) and Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas‘ud (ra). When he arrived there, he saw Hazrat Sa‘d (ra) was surrounded by his family members. The Holy Prophet (sa) enquired if he had passed away since he saw his family members crowding around and he was suffering from a severe ailment. The family members replied, ‘No, O Messenger (sa) of Allah! He is alive.’ Nonetheless, the Holy Prophet (sa) went close to him and upon seeing his condition, he began to cry. When the people saw the Holy Prophet (sa) in this state, they also began to cry. The Holy Prophet (sa) then said, ‘Hear my words! God Almighty never punishes for any tears that are shed, nor if the heart feels anguish, rather he will punish or show mercy owing to this,’ and the Holy Prophet (sa) pointed to his tongue. The Holy Prophet (sa) then said, ‘The deceased receives punishment if one’s family members lament and wail over a departed one.’”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitabul Jana’iz, Bab al-Bukaa ‘indal Mareed, Hadith 1304)
It is incorrect to lament and wail. Perhaps the condition of the Holy Prophet (sa) was brought about upon seeing Hazrat Sa‘d (ra) or that a special state descended upon the Holy Prophet (sa) for the acceptance of prayer and as a result of this, he became emotional. However, the other people thought that Hazrat Sa‘d’s (ra) end was near and hence, began to cry. The Holy Prophet (sa) explained to them that they ought to refrain from lamenting and wailing as it was a harmful deed for one to be displeased at the Decree of God Almighty.
Hence, if tears flow from the eyes in order to seek the pleasure of God Almighty, they attract the mercy of God Almighty, but if it is owing to lamentation and wailing, then one incurs punishment for such an act. In any case, Hazrat Sa‘d (ra) bin Ubadah did not pass away during this intense period of illness.
Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (ra) relates:
“We were in the company of the Holy Prophet (sa) when someone from among the Ansar came to the Holy Prophet (sa) and offered his greeting of Salam. As he turned away to go back, the Holy Prophet (sa) enquired, ‘O our brother from the Ansar! How is the health of my brother Sa‘d (ra) bin Ubadah?’ He replied that he was better now. The Holy Prophet (sa) then asked who among us would go to visit him. We all stood up to accompany the Holy Prophet (sa) and we were more than ten people. At the time, we were neither wearing any shoes nor any cap on our heads, or even our upper garments. In other words, we all quickly set off with the Holy Prophet (sa) and we continued to walk until we reached Sa‘d (ra) bin Ubadah. People had gathered around him and they all moved aside and the Holy Prophet (sa) and his companions stood near him.”
This narration is from Sahih Muslim and is relating the same incident which was mentioned earlier.
(Sahih Muslim, Kitabul Jana’iz, Bab fi Iyaadatil Mardaa, Hadith 2138)