Mishkat al-Masabih
Mishkat al-Masabih 1611
وَعَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَوْتُ الْفُجَاءَة أَخْذَةُ الْأَسَفِ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَزَادَ الْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي شُعَبِ الْإِيمَانِ وَرَزِينٌ فِي كِتَابِهِ: «أَخْذَةُ الأسف للْكَافِرِ وَرَحْمَة لِلْمُؤمنِ»
Ubaydullah ibn Khalid reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Sudden death is a seizure of grief." Abu Dawud transmitted it. Al-Bayhaqi, in Shuab al-Iman, and Razin in his book added: "A seizure of grief for the unbeliever and a mercy for the believer."
Translation notes
أَخْذَةُ الْأَسَفِ
The phrase combines a sudden taking with asaf, whose sense ranges around grief, regret, or distress; the English witness renders it as punishment out of anger, which is interpretive.
Which English wording best preserves أخذ الأسف here without importing an explanation?