Some women requested the Prophet (ﷺ) to fix a day for them as the men were taking all his time. On that he promised them one day for religious lessons and commandments. Once during such a lesson the Prophet said, "A woman whose three children die will be shielded by them from the Hell fire." On that a woman asked, "If only two die?" He replied, "Even two (will shield her from the Hell-fire).
Hadith Commentary: The Virtue of Patience in Child Loss
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari (Book: Knowledge, Hadith: 101) demonstrates profound divine mercy toward believing mothers. The Prophet's response reveals that Allah rewards patient endurance of child loss with protection from Hellfire, showing His immense compassion toward maternal suffering.
Scholarly Interpretation
Classical scholars like Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explain that this protection is granted to mothers who bear their loss with patience and faith, seeing it as Allah's decree. The reward corresponds to the magnitude of the trial endured.
Imam al-Nawawi emphasizes that this applies to Muslim women who die upon Islam, as the intercession of their deceased children becomes a means of divine mercy and elevation of ranks.
Contextual Significance
The hadith highlights the Prophet's special attention to women's religious education, dedicating specific time for their instruction when they requested it - establishing the importance of female religious learning in Islam.
The woman's follow-up question demonstrates the Companions' keen understanding in seeking precise religious knowledge, a practice highly encouraged in Islamic scholarship.