What does the Quran say about grief?

Grief is allowed

Yaqub's grief is described without rebuke, and his refusal to despair is stated in the same breath as his sorrow.

• Yusuf 12:84✦ skyread

  وَتَوَلَّىٰ عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَٰٓأَسَفَىٰ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ وَٱبْيَضَّتْ عَيْنَاهُ مِنَ ٱلْحُزْنِ فَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ

  And he turned away from them and said, "Oh, my sorrow over Joseph," and his eyes became white from grief, for he was [of that] a suppressor.

• Yusuf 12:86✦ skyread

  قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أَشْكُوا۟ بَثِّى وَحُزْنِىٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَأَعْلَمُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

  He said, "I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah, and I know from Allah that which you do not know.

Do not grieve

The phrase recurs as reassurance rather than instruction, most famously said inside the cave.

• At-Tawba 9:40✦ skyread

  إِلَّا تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ثَانِىَ ٱثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِى ٱلْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَٰحِبِهِۦ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَنَا فَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُۥ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُۥ بِجُنُودٍ لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلسُّفْلَىٰ وَكَلِمَةُ ٱللَّهِ هِىَ ٱلْعُلْيَا وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

  If you do not aid the Prophet - Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, "Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us." And Allah sent down his tranquillity upon him and supported him with angels you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allah - that is the highest. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.

• Aal-i-Imraan 3:139✦ skyread

  وَلَا تَهِنُوا۟ وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا۟ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلْأَعْلَوْنَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

  So do not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be superior if you are [true] believers.

Where hearts find rest

The answer offered is not distraction but remembrance.

• Ar-Ra'd 13:28✦ skyread

  ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ

  Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured."

• Ash-Sharh 94:6✦ skyread

  إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا

  Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.

Where it falls

Every verse on this subject, placed across the book in reading order. This subject leans Meccan, the earlier and more urgent material.

Densest by share of their own length: Al-An'aam (10), Aal-i-Imraan (12), Az-Zumar (4), Yunus (5).

How it sounds

These verses measured against the whole book, so the difference is what matters rather than the number.

Nearest the heart of it

The verses the measurement ranked closest to this subject, beyond the ones already quoted above.

• Taa-Haa 20:2✦ skyread

  مَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِتَشْقَىٰٓ

  We have not sent down to you the Qur'an that you be distressed

• Ash-Sharh 94:5✦ skyread

  فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا

  For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.

• Al-Muminoon 23:57✦ skyread

  إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ هُم مِّنْ خَشْيَةِ رَبِّهِم مُّشْفِقُونَ

  Indeed, they who are apprehensive from fear of their Lord

• Al-Hashr 59:13✦ skyread

  لَأَنتُمْ أَشَدُّ رَهْبَةً فِى صُدُورِهِم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ

  You [believers] are more fearful within their breasts than Allah. That is because they are a people who do not understand.

• Aal-i-Imraan 3:169✦ skyread

  وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ أَمْوَٰتًۢا بَلْ أَحْيَآءٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ

  And never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision,

• An-Nisaa 4:28✦ skyread

  يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُخَفِّفَ عَنكُمْ وَخُلِقَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنُ ضَعِيفًا

  And Allah wants to lighten for you [your difficulties]; and mankind was created weak.

• Al-A'laa 87:8✦ skyread

  وَنُيَسِّرُكَ لِلْيُسْرَىٰ

  And We will ease you toward ease.

• Al-Baqara 2:234✦ skyread

  وَٱلَّذِينَ يُتَوَفَّوْنَ مِنكُمْ وَيَذَرُونَ أَزْوَٰجًا يَتَرَبَّصْنَ بِأَنفُسِهِنَّ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا فَعَلْنَ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ

  And those who are taken in death among you and leave wives behind - they, [the wives, shall] wait four months and ten [days]. And when they have fulfilled their term, then there is no blame upon you for what they do with themselves in an acceptable manner. And Allah is [fully] Acquainted with what you do.