From relieving the grieved is taking the initiative to give him glad tidings if the one giving the tidings realizes that the evil has been repelled from the grieved, and that what he hopes for has been achieved, and his fears have been dispelled. This is a great favor that is priceless. Likewise, congratulating the one from whom Allah has removed grief and healed him from a calamity that afflicted him; his congratulation helps him overcome the effects of pain and forget it, brings him joy and happiness, and helps him restore his morale.

A person is exposed during his life to what is decreed for him of wounds and psychological traumas. Some of these wounds are more painful than physical wounds. These wounds need bandaging, treatment, and first aid according to their conditions. To the extent that these helps are provided to him, he is able—by the grace of Allah Almighty—to recover from them. The more those around him neglect him and ignore his treatment, the more the pains escalate and accompany him for a longer time. Therefore, it is the right of a psychologically pained person to be met with what alleviates the shock for him. Among the care of the true Sharia for the interests of people are the methods it includes for mending broken hearts, and what the texts of the two revelations are full of regarding urging to treat wounds of souls. Hence, the kind word has great value, as indicated by the hadith of Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, from the Prophet, peace be upon him, that he said: 'A kind word is charity,' agreed upon. This value is inherent in a kind word in any context it is said, and its importance and value increase if it is said as a treatment for psychological shock and first aid for one who has been afflicted with what pains his heart. Therefore, a Muslim should always pay attention to those around him. If he knows that one of his brothers has faced something that disturbs him, he should hasten to say what makes his distress easier. This is a noble position that should not be neglected. I have some points regarding relieving the grieved:

First: Mending broken hearts is a right of the distressed and grieved upon his brothers around him. If the grieved is sick, it is his right to have his heart mended by visiting him and by a kind word. As for visitation, it has a good impact on his soul; for this reason, the one who does it receives a great reward. From Thawban, the freed slave of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah be pleased with him, from the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, who said: 'Whoever visits a sick person will remain in the garden of Paradise until he returns.' It was said, 'O Messenger of Allah, what is the garden of Paradise?' He said: 'Its fruit.' Narrated by Muslim. As for the kind word, it is his right that his brothers tell him what cheers his chest with good wishes and pleasant speech, which raise his morale and strengthen in his heart the hope of good and safety, while reminding him that what has befallen him is hoped—by the permission of Allah Almighty—to be an expiation for his sins. In the hadith of Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both: that when the Prophet, peace be upon him, visited a sick person, he would say: 'No harm, it is a purification, if Allah wills.' Narrated by Bukhari. If the grieved has lost some of his loved ones, then it is legitimate to offer condolences and tell him what helps him to be patient, reminding him that his deceased is hoped to have moved to the mercy of Allah Almighty, and that Allah Almighty is more merciful to His dead slave than His living friend, and that it is better for the living than his dead friend. Also remind him of the great reward he will attain from losing a beloved one while being patient and seeking reward. Because of the importance of this deed, Muslims are encouraged to do it, and the one who does it is promised immense reward. From Amr ibn Hazm, may Allah be pleased with him, from the Prophet, peace be upon him, that he said: 'No believer offers condolences to his brother for a calamity except that Allah, the Glorified, will clothe him with garments of honor on the Day of Resurrection.' Narrated by Ibn Majah and classified as good by Al-Albani.

Second: From relieving the grieved is taking the initiative to give him glad tidings if the one giving the tidings realizes that evil has been repelled from the grieved, that what he hopes for has been achieved, and his fears have been dispelled. This is a great favor that is priceless. Likewise, congratulating the one from whom Allah has removed grief and healed him from a calamity that afflicted him; his congratulation helps him overcome the effects of pain and forget it, brings him the joy and happiness he needs, and helps him restore his morale. Both giving glad tidings and congratulation were combined in the story of Ka'b ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, when Allah accepted his repentance after he had stayed behind from the army of hardship. He said in the agreed-upon hadith: 'While I was sitting in the state that Allah described, when my soul was straitened and the earth, vast as it is, was straitened for me, I heard the voice of a crier who was on top of Mount Sal' calling out at the top of his voice: "O Ka'b ibn Malik, rejoice!" He said: I fell down prostrating and knew that relief had come. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, announced Allah's acceptance of our repentance when he prayed the Fajr prayer, so people went out to give us glad tidings. Some went to my two companions with glad tidings, and a man rushed to me on a horse, and a runner from the tribe of Aslam came and climbed the mountain, and the voice was faster than the horse. When the one whose voice I had heard came to me giving glad tidings, I took off my two garments and clothed him with them; by Allah, I owned nothing else at that time. Then I borrowed two garments and wore them.' Then he mentioned that Talhah met him, shook hands with him, and congratulated him. Then he said: 'I will never forget that for Talhah.'

Third: Just as it is legitimate and commendable by custom to relieve the grieved by removing his grief, conversely, it is deemed reprehensible by Sharia and custom to treat the grieved with abuse. This is nothing but like attacking a wounded person by beating and flogging. Therefore, times of pain are not an opportunity for gloating or settling personal scores. Rather, chivalry obliges a person to know when to hold his brother accountable. Arab poets have expressed this. For instance, one of them had a dispute with his cousin, then he heard that a misfortune had befallen him, so he said, sympathizing with him:

When news came to me about 'Uyaynah that he Found himself in a state where fetters were assembled, My soul gave him sincere advice, indeed, At times of hardship, grudges disappear.