Mishkat al-Masabih
Mishkat al-Masabih 1752
وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَجُلًا قَالَ لَهُ: مَاتَ ابْنٌ لِي فَوَجَدْتُ عَلَيْهِ هَلْ سَمِعْتَ مِنْ خَلِيلِكَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ شَيْئًا يَطَيِّبُ بِأَنْفُسِنَا عَنْ مَوْتَانَا؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ سَمِعْتُهُ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «صِغَارُهُمْ دَعَامِيصُ الْجَنَّةِ يلقى أحدهم أَبَاهُ فَيَأْخُذ بِنَاحِيَةِ ثَوْبِهِ فَلَا يُفَارِقُهُ حَتَّى يُدْخِلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم وَأحمد وَاللَّفْظ لَهُ
Abu Huraira said: A man told him, ‘My son has died, and I am grieving. Have you heard anything from your close companion ﷺ that might comfort us regarding our dead?’ He replied: ‘Yes. I heard him ﷺ say, “Their little ones are the free-roaming creatures of Paradise. One of them meets his father, takes hold of the edge of his garment, and does not leave him until he brings him into Paradise.”’ Muslim and Ahmad transmitted it; this is Ahmad’s wording.