Sunan an-Nasa'i
Sunan an-Nasa'i 3227
أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا الْمُسْتَلِمُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ زَاذَانَ، عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ قُرَّةَ، عَنْ مَعْقِلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ إِنِّي أَصَبْتُ امْرَأَةً ذَاتَ حَسَبٍ وَمَنْصِبٍ إِلاَّ أَنَّهَا لاَ تَلِدُ أَفَأَتَزَوَّجُهَا فَنَهَاهُ ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ الثَّانِيَةَ فَنَهَاهُ ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ الثَّالِثَةَ فَنَهَاهُ فَقَالَ " تَزَوَّجُوا الْوَلُودَ الْوَدُودَ فَإِنِّي مُكَاثِرٌ بِكُمْ " .
Abd al-Rahman ibn Khalid reported to us; he said: Yazid ibn Harun narrated to us; he said: al-Mustalim ibn Said informed us, from Mansur ibn Zadhan, from Muawiyah ibn Qurrah, from Maqil ibn Yasar, who said: A man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said: ‘I have found a woman of good lineage and high standing, except that she cannot bear children. Should I marry her?’ He forbade him. The man came to him a second time, and he forbade him; then he came to him a third time, and he forbade him. He then said: ‘Marry women who are fertile and loving, for I will take pride in your large numbers.’
Translation notes
The narration presents the woman as having lineage and status but being unable to bear children; the Prophet advises marrying women who are fertile and affectionate.
قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ إِنِّي أَصَبْتُ امْرَأَةً ذَاتَ حَسَبٍ وَمَنْصِبٍ إِلاَّ أَنَّهَا لاَ تَلِدُ أَفَأَتَزَوَّجُهَا فَنَهَاهُ ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ الثَّانِيَةَ فَنَهَاهُ ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ الثَّالِثَةَ فَنَهَاهُ فَقَالَ " تَزَوَّجُوا الْوَلُودَ الْوَدُودَ فَإِنِّي مُكَاثِرٌ بِكُمْ " .
فَإِنِّي مُكَاثِرٌ بِكُمْ means that the Prophet will have a greater number of followers through the community.
Does “I will take pride in your large numbers” convey the intended sense of مُكَاثِرٌ بِكُمْ?