Losing a child is not just the loss of the parents but the entire community. It is a tragedy that tears up the hearts of the parents and family. More than a religious obligation, it is the moral responsibility of the community members to show up for the parents. Make dua for the deceased child during the funeral prayer and ask for the child to be a precursor to heaven for their parents.
Narrated by Abu Hurairah(Ш±ЩЋШ¶ЩђЩЉЩЋ Щ±Щ„Щ„ЩЋЩ‘Щ°Щ‡ЩЏ Ш№ЩЋЩ†Щ’Щ‡ЩЏ) and as reported in Riyad as-Salihin 895, Prophet Muhammad (п·є) said, "Every Muslim has five rights over another Muslim- to return the greetings, to visit the sick, to accompany funeral processions, to accept an invitation, to respond to the sneezer."
The Prophet Muhammad (п·є) had three sons, and all of them died in their infancy. There is no greater example for Muslims than the example of the Prophet Muhammad. It is narrated that when his third son, Ibrahim Ibn Muhammad, died, the Prophet said, "O Ibrahim, against the judgment of God, we cannot avail you a thing," He further said, "O Ibrahim, were the truth not certain that the last of us will join the first, we would have mourned you even more than we do now." And "The eyes send their tears and the heart is saddened, but we do not say anything except that which pleases our Lord. Indeed, O Ibrahim, we are bereaved by your departure from us."
Thus, the Prophet Muhammad (п·є) teaches bereaved parents to be content with Allah's will and decision. To find solace in the fact that their beloved child is in Jannah and in a better place by the will of the Almighty. They should make their heart's content with the fact that they will meet their child in heaven on the day of judgment and will be reunited forever.
Sickness & Death (DE) Duas (DE)
Allaahumma 'a'ith-hu min 'athaabil-qabri.(1)Allaahum-maj'alhufaratan wa thukhran liwaalidayhi, wa shafee'an mujaaban. Allaahumma thaqqil bihi mawaazeenahumaa wa 'a'dhim bihi 'ujoorahumaa, wa 'alhiqhu bisaalihil-mu'mineena, waj'alhu fee kafaalati 'Ibraaheema, wa qihi birahmatika 'athaabal-jaheemi, wa 'abdilhu daaran khayran min daarihi, wa 'ahlan khayran min 'ahlihi, Allaahum-maghfir li'aslaafinaa, wa 'afraatinaa wa man sabaqanaa bil'eemaan.(2)
O Allah, bewahre ihn vor der Pein des Grabes.O Allah, mache ihn für seine Eltern zu einem Vorboten, einem Schatz und einer beantworteten Fürsprache. Lass ihn am Tag der Auferstehung ihre Waagschalen erschweren und vergrößere damit ihre Belohnung. Lass ihn zu den rechtschaffenen Gläubigen gehören; lass ihn zu den Bürgen Ibrahims gehören und bewahre ihn mit Deiner Barmherzigkeit vor der Pein des Höllenfeuers. Ersetze ihm seine Wohnstätte mit einer besseren und seine Familie mit einer besseren. O Allah, vergib unseren Vorfahren, unseren Vorboten und jenen, die uns im Glauben vorausgegangen sind.
It takes a village to raise a child, and it is on the entire community to ensure that they contribute towards protecting and raising the child. The same goes for performing the last rites, too. For a deceased child, during the funeral prayer, make sure you remember the child and the innocence that they had. Be humble and gentle in your prayer. Pray for the child as well as their family and support the family through their grief. Ask for the comfort of the child and their parents by being a shoulder for the parents.
Reciting dua for the deceased child during the funeral prayer helps offer support to the parents and the community. It allows the community to share the grief of the parents and offer heartfelt condolence and compassion. It helps acknowledge grief and build compassion and empathy in the community to show up for the grieving family.