One of the Best Condolence Messages

Ibn Al-Qayyim rahimahullah mentions in Al-Fawa'id: "فتأمل حال الجنين يأتيه غذاؤه، وهو الدم، من طريق واحدة وهو السرة. فلما خرج من بطن الأم وانقطعت تلك الطريق فتح له طريقين اثنين، وأجرى له فيهما رزقاً أطيب وألذ من الأول لبناً خالصاً سائغاً. فإذا تمت مدة الرضاع، وانقطعت الطريقان بالفطام، فتح طرقاً أربعة أكمل منها: طعامان وشرابان، فالطعامان من الحيوان والنبات، والشرابان من المياه والألبان، وما يضاف إليهما من المنافع والملاذ. فإذا مات انقطعت عنه هذه الطرق الأربعة لكنه - سبحانه - فتح له- إن كان سعيداً - طرقاً ثمانية، وهى أبواب الجنة الثمانية، يدخل من أيها شاء. فهكذا الرب سبحانه لا يمنع عبده المؤمن شيئاً من الدنيا إلا ويؤتيه أفضل منه وأنفع له. وليس ذلك لغير المؤمن، فإنه يمنعه الحظ الأدنى الخسيس ولا يرضى له به؛ ليعطيه الحظ الأعلى النفيس. Reflect on the state of the fetus: its nourishment comes to it in the form of blood, through a single route — the umbilical cord. When it leaves its mother’s womb and that route is cut off, Allah opens for it two new routes, and provides it with something better and more pleasant than before: pure, wholesome milk that is easy to drink. When the period of breastfeeding ends and these two routes are cut off through weaning, He opens four routes for it, more complete than before: two types of food and two types of drink. The foods come from animals and plants, and the drinks come from water and milk, along with all the benefits and enjoyments that accompany them. When a person dies, these four routes are cut off. But if he is among the blessed, Allah opens for him eight routes — the eight gates of Paradise — and he may enter through whichever of them he wishes. In this way, Allah, the Most High, does not withhold anything from His believing servant in this world except that He gives him something better and more beneficial in its place. This is only for the believer. He withholds from him the lower, insignificant share and is not pleased with it for him, so that He may grant him the higher, more precious share.