A funeral procession passed by Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) who said, "Relieved or relieving?" The people asked, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! What is relieved and relieving?" He said, "A believer is relieved (by death) from the troubles and hardships of the world and leaves for the Mercy of Allah, while (the death of) a wicked person relieves the people, the land, the trees, (and) the animals from him."
To make the Heart Tender (Ar-Riqaq)
Sahih al-Bukhari 6512
Hadith Text
A funeral procession passed by Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) who said, "Relieved or relieving?" The people asked, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! What is relieved and relieving?" He said, "A believer is relieved (by death) from the troubles and hardships of the world and leaves for the Mercy of Allah, while (the death of) a wicked person relieves the people, the land, the trees, (and) the animals from him."
Commentary on the Question
The Prophet's enigmatic question "Relieved or relieving?" serves as a profound teaching method, compelling his companions to seek knowledge and reflect deeply on the spiritual reality of death. This pedagogical approach stimulates intellectual curiosity and prepares the heart to receive divine wisdom about the ultimate fate of souls.
The Believer's Death: A Liberation
For the righteous believer, death represents a blessed release from worldly afflictions, trials, and sufferings. The world is a prison for the believer and paradise for the disbeliever. The believer's soul transitions from the constrictions of earthly existence to the expansive mercy of Allah, exchanging temporary hardships for eternal bliss.
The Wicked Person's Death: A Relief for Creation
The death of an evil-doer brings relief to all creation - mankind, land, vegetation, and animals are delivered from their corruption and harm. This demonstrates how sin affects not only the individual but the entire environment. Creation itself sighs in relief when freed from the presence of those who transgress against Allah's natural order.
Spiritual Implications
This hadith teaches us to evaluate our lives: will our death be a relief for us or for others? It inspires believers to live righteously so their passing becomes a promotion to divine mercy rather than a relief for creation from their evil. The narration tenderizes hearts by revealing death's dual nature - either as a blessed transition or as a deliverance from harm.