"The Messenger of Allah said: 'There is no Muslim, three of whose children die before reaching puberty, but Allah will admit him to Paradise by virtue of His mercy towards them."'
Hadith Text & Reference
"The Messenger of Allah said: 'There is no Muslim, three of whose children die before reaching puberty, but Allah will admit him to Paradise by virtue of His mercy towards them.'"
Source: Sunan an-Nasa'i 1873 | Book: The Book of Funerals
Commentary on the Meaning
This noble hadith demonstrates the vastness of Allah's mercy and His divine compensation for worldly tribulations. The death of a child represents one of the most severe tests of faith and patience for a believer.
The phrase "by virtue of His mercy towards them" indicates that these children, having died before the age of accountability, enter Paradise purely through Allah's boundless mercy. Their parents, in turn, receive the ultimate reward of Paradise as a divine recompense for their patience and as an honor bestowed through their connection to these blessed souls.
Scholarly Insights
Classical scholars explain that this promise applies to both parents, though the wording addresses the singular. The number "three" signifies a pattern of repeated trial that demonstrates sincere patience and submission to divine decree.
This hadith serves as profound consolation for bereaved parents, transforming their grief into hope. It reveals the Islamic perspective that these children become intercessors for their parents, and their loss becomes a means of spiritual elevation rather than mere punishment.
The scholars emphasize that this divine promise requires the parent to maintain Islamic faith and demonstrate patience, understanding that true compensation lies in the Hereafter. The suffering endured becomes a purification from sins and an elevation in ranks before Allah.
Practical Implications
This teaching encourages Muslims to view trials through the lens of divine wisdom and ultimate reward. It provides comfort while reinforcing the importance of steadfastness in faith during times of hardship.
The hadith also highlights the special status of children in Islam and Allah's particular mercy toward them, assuring believers that their departed children are in a state of bliss and will be reunited with them in Paradise.