The Book of Funerals - Sunan an-Nasa'i 1874

"I met Abu Dharr and said: 'Tell me a Hadith.' He said: the Messenger of Allah said: There are no two Muslims, three of whose children die before reaching puberty, but Allah will forgive them by virtue of His mercy towards them."'

Commentary on the Hadith

This noble hadith from Sunan an-Nasa'i demonstrates Allah's immense mercy toward believing parents who endure the trial of losing children. The phrase "two Muslims" refers to both parents, indicating that this divine pardon encompasses both father and mother.

The condition of three children dying before bulugh (puberty) signifies a severe test of faith. Children who die before maturity are considered pure souls who enter Paradise directly, serving as intercessors for their parents on the Day of Judgment.

The phrase "by virtue of His mercy" emphasizes that this forgiveness stems purely from Allah's boundless compassion, not from any inherent merit in the parents' actions. This serves as immense consolation for grieving Muslim parents, transforming their sorrow into hope for divine pardon and reunion in the Hereafter.

Scholars note that this mercy extends to all sins except shirk (associating partners with Allah), demonstrating Islam's compassionate approach to parental grief while maintaining theological principles.