Nurturing the Next Generation
Sound Vision

Advice from the Sunnah on Coping with Grief After the Loss of a Loved One

By Umm Zaynab

Our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, experienced grief at many points of his life, often at the loss of loved ones. During these experiences he taught us that grief is a natural emotion and that Allah does not hold us accountable for expressing sadness and pain in a permissible manner. Learn more about Islamic guidance from the Quran and Sunnah that relate to loss and grief by reading the full article.

 Parenting Tip

In the Quran, Allah promises, “Every soul will taste death. Then to Us will you be returned” (Surah Al-’Ankabut, 29:57). While this is a reminder to ensure we are living our best life, it is likely we will also be touched by death in the loss of a loved one. There is much Islamic guidance provided on the topic of loss and grief. Learn these details for yourself and your family.

Helping our Children Cope with Loss

By Melissa Barreto

Life and death experiences touch all of us and they touch our children, too. Death is a normal and natural life experience. How you handle these moments with your children can help them be incredibly resilient. Author Melissa Barreto shares her experiences helping her children deal with the loss of their mother, their beloved abuela, and provides five suggestions that can help everyone.

Inspiration

“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient,Who, when disaster strikes them, say, ‘Indeed we belong to Allah , and indeed to Him we will return.’ Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided.” 

(Surah Al Baqarah, 2:155-157)

From the Midwife’s Desk: When Pregnancy Ends in Miscarriage

By Melissa Fleming

A pregnancy that ends in miscarriage can be both physically and emotionally painful and is a relatively common experience. Couples faced with pregnancy loss will experience mourning but with positive coping behaviors and the support of family and friends, they can move to reconciliation and acceptance. It is important to get advice about the physical, emotional, and spiritual healing needed in these difficult moments. Read more for details.

Hadith

Narrated by Abu Hurairah, the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said: 

“The example of a believer is that of a fresh tender plant; from whatever direction the wind comes, it bends it, but when the wind becomes quiet, it becomes straight again. Similarly, a believer is afflicted with calamities (but he remains patient till Allah removes his difficulties). And an impious wicked person is like a pine tree which keeps hard and straight till Allah cuts (breaks) it down when He wishes.” 
(Sahih al-Bukhari 5644)

To the Grieving Convert

By Melissa Barreto

Having a loved one pass is never easy. But for converts to Islam, it can be especially difficult navigating how to grieve your loss, be present for your non-Muslim family, and uphold your own practice at the same time. Here are some points that may be of help to those grieving a loved one, especially converts. And most importantly, remember that your feelings are not a sign of weak faith.

Some Interesting Facts

It is unclear what the exact prevalence of grief is in the U.S. However, these facts and figures shed some light on this relatable experience.

• Older adults experience grief at a higher rate than younger adults or children. Spousal loss is common in older adults as well as the death of friends, siblings and cousins. 
• About 2.5 million people die in the United States annually, each leaving an average of five grieving people behind. 
• It’s estimated that 1.5 million children (5% of children in the United States) have lost one or both parents by age 15.

To read more about these numbers, click here

Book Review: Tear Soup - A Recipe for Healing After Loss

By Umm Ahmed

Tear Soup is a thought provoking parable geared towards addressing the different stages of grief as well as self care and managing the responses of others in a thoughtful way. More than serving as a manual guide to grief, this story book deeply touches the hearts of those suffering by feeding them with validation and encouragement. Nearly 30,000 readers have added testimonials to the effectiveness of the story for both children and adults. Stories are a great way to open the door to important conversations about loss and grief. Read the full review here.

Online Resources For Adults

9 Best Books for Dealing with Grief and Loss - This is a list of the most popular books related to grief and loss. 

Losing a Loved One during the Pandemic - This article by mental health practitioners offers practical information and suggestions on how to deal with loss of a loved one to the COVID pandemic.

Book Review: “Hidden Blessings” Sheds Light on Tests and Trials - This book provides many insights on the challenges of tests and trials in the life of a Muslim believer.

A Handbook of Muslim Burials - This comprehensive handbook covers the details of Islamic etiquettes and requirements relatred to death, ghusl (washing of the deceased body), janazah prayer, burial procedures, and common practices not sanctioned by the sunnah.

Online Resources For Children

How to Introduce a Concept of Death to a Muslim Child - This article identifies lots of practical ways to talk to children about death, even from an early age. Addressing the topic in a natural manner will help ensure that there is understanding when the death of a loved one hits.

25 Children’s Books that Explain Death and Grief to Kids - This is a list of contemporary books on the topic of death and grief that are likely to be available at your local library. Though not from an Islamic perspective they can open the door to a subject that parents often shy away from.

When Someone your Child Loves Dies - This is a practical two-page guide published by the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children's Media.

Adam’s World Video: Adam and the Little Ants

Adam shows his little sister ants that he captured from the backyard and, when he suggests he will not be treating them well because “they are just little ants,” she takes matters into her own hands. Aneesah  reminds Adam of the lessons found in Surah 27:18-19 about Prophet Sulaiyman (peace be upon him) and his army. The video also features the Arabic letter “qaaf” and English letter “Q” for Quran. Dawud Wharnby’s beautiful song “Animals Love Quran” also reinforces the theme of treating all creatures with love and respect. (6:19)

The Sound Vision Foundation has been a trusted source of Islamic knowledge for more than 30 years. Our work with the world-renowned puppets Adam and Aneesah pioneered creative programming for Muslim children, encouraging them to learn about and love their religion. We continue to bring sound content and engaging programs that stimulate minds, touch hearts, and strive to fulfill our mission of raising better Muslims, better neighbors, and better citizens. This latest effort is designed to support and empower Muslim parents to do the same.