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Shut up, when others grieve..!

Dawood Ibrahim

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By Webmaster - January 10, 201703

YESTERDAY I went to the home of a friend who had lost her father. I sat in silence and let her cry. One of the silliest things I have seen at a funeral is someone going across to the bereaved party, holding his or her hand and telling them not to worry everything will be alright!
Everything will be alright? Can you imagine what the grieved person feels when you say the death of a loved one is going to be made alright in the twinkling of an eye? So often we don’t understand how trivial we make of someone who is grieving. Sometimes instead of such ordinary words of comfort it is best we leave a grieving person without such silly words. So, how do you comfort those who mourn?
Experts tell us, among other things, to simply say, “I’m sorry” or “I love you.” Often, the less said, the better, so long as you are present, you care and you listen.
American poet Edgar Guest, told of a neighbor by the name of Jim Potter. Mr. Potter ran the medical store near were Edgar Guest lived. Mostly they smiled and exchanged greetings when they happened to see one another.
One tragic night the poet’s first-born child died. He felt overcome with grief. Several days after the death, Guest had reason to go to the drug store run by his neighbor. When he entered, Jim Potter motioned for him to come behind the counter. “Eddie,” he said, “I really can’t express to you the great sympathy that I have for you at this time. All I can say is that I am terribly sorry, and if you need for me to do anything, you can count on me.”
Many years later Edgar Guest reflected on that encounter. He said, “Just a person across the way – a passing acquaintance. Jim Potter may have long since forgotten that moment when he extended his hand to me in sympathy, but I shall never forget it – never in all my life.”
As the poet thought back to that unhappy time, one vivid memory, just a brief encounter, shone brightest. And it meant the world to a grieving father. Those who comfort others bring no less than a piece of heaven to earth.
A small story I love repeating is that of a girl who heard that her neighbour had lost her son. She asked permission of her mother to go across and visit the grieving mother.
The surprised mother of the little girl waited patiently for her daughter to come back and then asked her what words of comfort she had given to the grieving mother. “Nothing,” said the litter girl, “I just crept onto her lap and wept with her!” When others grieve your silent presence helps more than words..!
—Email: bobsbanter@gmail.com

@war&peace @tps77 @Mentee @Khafee @SherDil007 @Morse_Code
 
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Very well said, sometimes it's best to keep quiet, I for one am always at a loss for words, how do you tell someone who has lost a loved one that it is ok?

A colleagues cute 4 month old daughter died, no complications, no disease, nothing. One fine morning they wake up to find her dead, how do I tell him it's alright?

"Very sorry for your loss, may God elevate the rank of the departed one, and give you and your loved ones the strength to carry on. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance." OR as muslims "Innal laha maas sabireen" God is with those who are patient. This, and only this, should be what one should be saying, but sometimes even this is difficult. You choke up midway when you relate their loss, with yours.

But people are stupid by nature - they keep asking silly questions, for the love of God, why can't you just shut up and let the person grieve. What are you a pvt investigator? Your curiosity can be satisfied later, shut your trap for now.
 
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I used to be very awkward and rather I avoided meeting people immediately after hearing demise of their loved ones. I have never been a master of speech but such emotional situations always totally stumped me ....When I used to meet them I just hugged and shed some tears, I never found crying loudly appealing or doable for me but by the age 20, I added a few word "May Allah bless his / her soul...just be patient", then I discussed this issue with my friend he guided me to use the religious words "inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi ra'jeooon" say fatiha and pray for the soul of the deceased person. but what if the friend is non-Muslim, then it is better to stay silent.

The most awkward words I ever heard were from my friend, in 2nd grade, to another friends who's father died in a car accident and he said very honestly "be patient..God will give you a new one"..
 
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I totally agree sometime people trying to be smart with words and instead of comfort them they end up regretting.
Ina Lil-lahe WA ina alaihe rajoon.
 
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Don't go to funerals, nothing you can say will make a difference, nor will your absence.
 
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Don't go to funerals, nothing you can say will make a difference, nor will your absence.
No my religion says I should, and in my personal opinion it does make a difference.

Our Prophet PBUH said that one who goes to a funeral, performs the funeral prayers and carries the dead to his final abode, (i.e. helps bury him) will be entitled to hasnat (sawab in urdu) as if he gave two Qirats of gold in charity.

His companions, may Allah be pleased with them asked what is "Qirat" ? He replied one Qirat = The mountain of Uhud.

May Allah forgive me, if I made any mistakes in quoting this Hadith. Allah knows best.
 
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No my religion says I should, and in my personal opinion it does make a difference.

Our Prophet PBUH said that one who goes to a funeral, performs the funeral prayers and carries the dead to his final abode, (i.e. helps bury him) will be entitled to hasnat (sawab in urdu) as if he gave two Qirats of gold in charity.

His companions, may Allah be pleased with them asked what is "Qirat" ? He replied one Qirat = The mountain of Uhud.

May Allah forgive me, if I made any mistakes in quoting this Hadith. Allah knows best.
Well, you ideally would, but only for people you're close to. Here in India, at least from what I can tell, 2 generations of extremely distant relatives will sometimes show up to funerals, people you have no connect to otherwise, I just feel it's sometimes pointless moral posturing, and not genuinely sharing in someone's grief.
 
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I can't agree more with the OP, same happened when my father died, relatives, His colleagues, my friends all started pouring in with the same BS "Oh my God Can't believe my eyes, Just saw him jogging the other day", "OMG I am so sorry dude, could not come any sooner", "Hosla rakh beta, everything's gonna be alright", "Stay strong bruv we are here for you". I literally felt like making all of them stand in a row and kick their butts one by one before sending them home.

Jiska khoya sirf usiko pata hota hai ki kya khoya hai,
 
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There are people out there who need assurances, no matter how fake they may be. So kinda safe to say these things vary from person to person. There are people out there who even call their dead loved ones phones to just hear the answering machines play their voice messages................I myself belong to the group which retreats to seclusion when feeling down/hurt, but it wouldn't be accurate if I use my personal feelings to establish a norm on others behalf. Diversity defines us all but what remains a constant fact is somewhat like this: Time heals a lot of wounds if not all...and if someone is in desperate need of relief, they may wanna hear this.
 
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