Question

Kindly mention the Hadith and incident regarding Allah Ta’ala  being more merciful than a mother to her child.

Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) had asked his companions if the mother would cast her child in the fire.

Answer

Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim (rahimahumallah) have recorded this narration on the authority of Sayyiduna ‘Umar ibn Al Khattab (radiyallahu ‘anhu). The full narration is as follows:

“Some captives were brought to Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), among whom was a breast feeding woman. When she found a child among the captives, she took it and suckled it. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said to us, ‘Do you think this woman will cast her child into a fire?’ We said, ‘No, if she has the power not to.’ Then Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘Allah is more merciful to His slaves than this woman is to her child”

(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 5999 and Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2754)

This women had lost her child. Since her breasts were filled with milk and she could not locate her child, she would feed other children to get some relief from the discomfort. When she found her child she fed him and clung on to him. This is when Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) asked the Sahabah, ‘Do you think this woman will cast her child into a fire?’

(Fathul Bari, Hadith: 5999)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar