Chapter 90

What to say when visited by misfortunes, be they few or many

Remembrance 1
ALLAH Honorific symbol SAYS: “And give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere, and who say, when afflicted with calamity: ‘To Allah we belong, and to Him is our return.’ They are those on whom (descend) blessings from their lord, and mercy. And they are the truly guided.” [1].
Arabic text from the source edition
We relate in Ibn as-Sunnī from Abū Hurayrah Honorific symbol, who reported that the Messenger of Allah Honorific symbol said: “Let every one of you say: ‘To Allah we belong, and to Him is our return’ for everything, even for [a broken] sandal-thong, because it is a misfortune.” [2].
I say: ash-Shis‘, with a kasrah on the shīn and with a sukūn on the sīn, means one of the thongs of a sandal which is fastened to the thong between the middle toe and the one next to it.

References

[1] Qur’ān 2:155–157.
[2] Ibn as-Sunnī (354) and al-Futūḥāt (4/28). Ibn Ḥajar states that this hadith is gharīb and its chain contains some weakness; however, it has a supporting narration which is from a witness.