Chapter on the Virtue of Children
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 3|Book 3|Chapter 49
فِي رِوَايَةِ اَلسَّكُونِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: "اَلْوَلَدُ اَلصَّالِحُ رَيْحَانَةٌ مِنْ رَيَاحِينِ اَلْجَنَّةِ ".
In the narration of Al-Sakooni, the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: "A righteous child is a flower from the flowers of Paradise."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "مِيرَاثُ اَللَّهِ مِنْ عَبْدِهِ اَلْمُؤْمِنِ اَلْوَلَدُ اَلصَّالِحُ يَسْتَغْفِرُ لَهُ".
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "Allah's سبحانه وتعالى inheritance from His سبحانه وتعالى believing servant is a righteous child who seeks forgiveness for him."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ أَبُو اَلْحَسَنِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "إِنَّ اَللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى إِذَا أَرَادَ بِعَبْدٍ خَيْراً لَمْ يُمِتْهُ حَتَّى يُرِيَهُ اَلْخَلَفَ".
Abu al-Hasan عليه السلام said: "Indeed, when Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Blessed and Exalted, intends good for a servant, He سبحانه وتعالى does not cause him to die until He سبحانه وتعالى shows him (the believer) his successor."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رُوِيَ: "أَنَّ مَنْ مَاتَ بِلاَ خَلَفٍ فَكَأَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي اَلنَّاسِ وَ مَنْ مَاتَ وَ لَهُ خَلَفٌ فَكَأَنْ لَمْ يَمُتْ".
It is narrated: "Whoever dies without leaving behind a successor, it is as if he was never among the people. And whoever dies and leaves behind a successor, it is as if he never died."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى أَبَانُ بْنُ تَغْلِبَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: "اَلْبَنَاتُ حَسَنَاتٌ وَ اَلْبَنُونَ نِعْمَةٌ فَالْحَسَنَاتُ يُثَابُ عَلَيْهَا وَ اَلنِّعْمَةُ يُسْأَلُ عَنْهَا".
Aban ibn Taghlib narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام who said: "Daughters are good deeds, and sons are blessings. Good deeds are rewarded, and blessings are questioned about."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ بُشِّرَ اَلنَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ بِابْنَةٍ فَنَظَرَ فِي وُجُوهِ أَصْحَابِهِ فَرَأَى اَلْكَرَاهَةَ فِيهِمْ فَقَالَ "مَا لَكُمْ رَيْحَانَةٌ أَشَمُّهَا وَ رِزْقُهَا عَلَى اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ" وَ كَانَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَبَا بَنَاتٍ.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) was given the glad tidings of a daughter. He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم looked at the faces of his companions and saw displeasure in them. He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: "What is the matter with you? She is a sweet flower (rayḥanah) that I smell, and her sustenance is upon Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic." And Prophet عليه السلام was a father of daughters.
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "فِي اَلْمَرَضِ يُصِيبُ اَلصَّبِيَّ إِنَّهُ كَفَّارَةٌ لِوَالِدَيْهِ".
Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام said: "When a child falls ill, it serves as an expiation for the sins of the parents."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "إِنَّ اَللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَيَرْحَمُ اَلرَّجُلَ لِشِدَّةِ حُبِّهِ لِوَلَدِهِ".
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "Indeed, Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, has mercy on a man because of the intensity of his love for his child."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ - قَالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ: إِنَّ لِي بَنَاتٍ فَقَالَ "لَعَلَّكَ تَتَمَنَّى مَوْتَهُنَّ أَمَا إِنَّكَ إِنْ تَمَنَّيْتَ مَوْتَهُنَّ وَ مِتْنَ لَمْ تُؤْجَرْ يَوْمَ اَلْقِيَامَةِ وَ لَقِيتَ رَبَّكَ حِينَ تَلْقَاهُ وَ أَنْتَ عَاصٍ".
Umar ibn Yazid said to Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام: "I have daughters." The Imam عليه السلام replied: "Perhaps you wish for their death? Know that if you wish for their death and they die, you will not be rewarded on the Day of Judgment, and you will meet your Lord عز وجل while being disobedient to Him سبحانه وتعالى."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى حَمْزَةُ بْنُ حُمْرَانَ بِإِسْنَادِهِ: أَنَّهُ أَتَى رَجُلٌ إِلَى اَلنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ عِنْدَهُ رَجُلٌ فَأَخْبَرَهُ بِمَوْلُودٍ لَهُ فَتَغَيَّرَ لَوْنُ اَلرَّجُلِ فَقَالَ اَلنَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ "مَا لَكَ" قَالَ خَيْرٌ قَالَ "قُلْ" قَالَ خَرَجْتُ وَ اَلْمَرْأَةُ تَمْخَضُ فَأُخْبِرْتُ أَنَّهَا وَلَدَتْ جَارِيَةً فَقَالَ لَهُ اَلنَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ "اَلْأَرْضُ تُقِلُّهَا وَ اَلسَّمَاءُ تُظِلُّهَا وَ اَللَّهُ يَرْزُقُهَا وَ هِيَ رَيْحَانَةٌ تَشَمُّهَا" ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى أَصْحَابِهِ فَقَالَ "مَنْ كَانَ لَهُ اِبْنَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ فَهُوَ مَقْرُوحٌ وَ مَنْ كَانَ لَهُ اِبْنَتَانِ فَيَا غَوْثَاهْ بِاللَّهِ وَ مَنْ كَانَ لَهُ ثَلاَثُ بَنَاتٍ وُضِعَ عَنْهُ اَلْجِهَادُ وَ كُلُّ مَكْرُوهٍ وَ مَنْ كَانَ لَهُ أَرْبَعُ بَنَاتٍ فَيَا عِبَادَ اَللَّهِ أَعِينُوهُ يَا عِبَادَ اَللَّهِ أَقْرِضُوهُ يَا عِبَادَ اَللَّهِ اِرْحَمُوهُ".
Hamzah ibn Humran narrated through his chain of transmission that a man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) while another man was sitting with Him صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم. The man informed the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم about the birth of his child, and the color of the man's face changed. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) asked him: "What is the matter with you?" The man replied: "It's nothing." The Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: "Speak." The man said: "I left while my wife was in labor, and I was informed that she gave birth to a daughter." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said to him: "The earth will carry her, the sky will shade her, and Allah سبحانه وتعالى will provide for her. She is a sweet flower that you will smell." Then the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم turned to his companions and said: "Whoever has one daughter will be burdened with care. Whoever has two daughters, then seek help from Allah سبحانه وتعالى for him. Whoever has three daughters, the obligation of jihad and every hardship is lifted from him. And whoever has four daughters, O servants of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, help him! O servants of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, support him! O servants of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, have mercy on him!"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "مَنْ عَالَ ثَلاَثَ بَنَاتٍ أَوْ ثَلاَثَ أَخَوَاتٍ وَجَبَتْ لَهُ اَلْجَنَّةُ " قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ وَ اِثْنَتَيْنِ قَالَ "وَ اِثْنَتَيْنِ" قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ "وَ وَاحِدَةً" قَالَ "وَ وَاحِدَةً".
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: "Whoever takes care of three daughters or three sisters, Paradise becomes obligatory for him." It was asked: "O Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, what about two?" He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم replied: "And two (meaning same reward)." It was asked: "O Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, and one?" He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: "And one (meaning same reward)."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "مَنْ عَالَ اِبْنَتَيْنِ أَوْ أُخْتَيْنِ أَوْ عَمَّتَيْنِ أَوْ خَالَتَيْنِ حَجَبَتَاهُ مِنَ اَلنَّارِ".
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "Whoever takes care of two daughters, two sisters, two paternal aunts, or two maternal aunts, they will shield him from the Fire."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "إِذَا أَصَابَ اَلرَّجُلُ اِبْنَةً بَعَثَ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهَا مَلَكاً فَأَمَرَّ جَنَاحَهُ عَلَى رَأْسِهَا وَ صَدْرِهَا وَ قَالَ ضَعِيفَةٌ خُلِقَتْ مِنْ ضَعْفٍ اَلْمُنْفِقُ عَلَيْهَا مُعَانٌ".
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "When a man is blessed with a daughter, Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, sends an angel to her who passes his wing over her head and chest and says, 'A fragile being created from weakness; whoever provides for her will be assisted.'"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: "اِعْلَمُوا أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ يَلْقَى سِقْطَهُ مُحْبَنْطِئاً عَلَى بَابِ اَلْجَنَّةِ حَتَّى إِذَا رَآهُ أَخَذَ بِيَدِهِ حَتَّى يُدْخِلَهُ اَلْجَنَّةَ وَ إِنَّ وَلَدَ أَحَدِكُمْ إِذَا مَاتَ أُجِرَ فِيهِ وَ إِنْ بَقِيَ بَعْدَهُ اِسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهِ".
The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: "Know that one of you will find his miscarried child waiting anxiously at the gate of Paradise. When they (the child) sees him, they will grasp his hand and not let go until he brings him into Paradise. Indeed, if one of your children dies, you will be rewarded for it, and if the child remains after you, he will seek forgiveness for you after your death."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "أَحِبُّوا اَلصِّبْيَانَ وَ اِرْحَمُوهُمْ وَ إِذَا وَعَدْتُمُوهُمْ فَفُوا لَهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ لاَ يَرَوْنَ إِلاَّ أَنَّكُمْ تَرْزُقُونَهُمْ".
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: "Love the children and have mercy on them. When you promise them something, fulfill it for them, for they only perceive that you are the ones who provide for them."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى رِفَاعَةُ بْنُ مُوسَى عَنْ أَبِي اَلْحَسَنِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ اَلرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ لَهُ بَنُونَ وَ أُمُّهُمْ لَيْسَتْ بِوَاحِدَةٍ أَ يُفَضِّلُ أَحَدَهُمْ عَلَى اَلْآخَرِ قَالَ "نَعَمْ لاَ بَأْسَ بِهِ وَ قَدْ كَانَ أَبِي عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ يُفَضِّلُنِي عَلَى عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ ".
Rifa'ah ibn Musa narrated from Abu Al-Hasan عليه السلام who said: I asked him about a man who has sons from different mothers, can he favor one of them over the others? Imam عليه السلام replied: "Yes, there is no harm in that. My father عليه السلام used to favor me over Abdullah."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ اَلسَّكُونِيِّ قَالَ: نَظَرَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ إِلَى رَجُلٍ لَهُ اِبْنَانِ فَقَبَّلَ أَحَدَهُمَا وَ تَرَكَ اَلْآخَرَ فَقَالَ لَهُ اَلنَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ "فَهَلاَّ وَاسَيْتَ بَيْنَهُمَا".
In the narration of Al-Sakooni, it is reported that the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) saw a man who had two sons. The man kissed one of them and left the other. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said to him, "Why did you not treat them equally?"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 292
وَ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "يَلْزَمُ اَلْوَالِدَيْنِ مِنْ عُقُوقِ اَلْوَلَدِ مَا يَلْزَمُ اَلْوَلَدَ لَهُمَا مِنَ اَلْعُقُوقِ".
Imam عليه السلام said: "Parents are held accountable for disobedience toward their children just as children are held accountable for disobedience toward their parents."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "بِرُّ اَلرَّجُلِ بِوَلَدِهِ بِرُّهُ بِوَالِدَيْهِ".
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "A man's kindness to his child is a form of his kindness to his own parents."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ فِي خَبَرٍ آخَرَ قَالَ قَالَ اَلنَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: "مَنْ كَانَ عِنْدَهُ صَبِيٌّ فَلْيَتَصَابَ لَهُ ".
In another narration, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: "Whoever has a child should act childishly with him."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "مِنْ نِعَمِ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَى اَلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يُشْبِهَهُ وَلَدُهُ".
Imam عليه السلام said: "Among the blessings of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, upon a man is that his child resembles him."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "إِنَّ اَللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ خَلْقاً جَمَعَ كُلَّ صُورَةٍ بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ آدَمَ ثُمَّ خَلَقَهُ عَلَى صُورَةِ إِحْدَاهُنَّ فَلاَ يَقُولَنَّ أَحَدٌ لِوَلَدِهِ هَذَا لاَ يُشْبِهُنِي وَ لاَ يُشْبِهُ شَيْئاً مِنْ آبَائِي".
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "When Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Blessed and Exalted, wills to create a being, He سبحانه وتعالى gathers every form between him and Adam عليه السلام, then creates him in the image of one of them. Therefore, no one should say about his child, 'This one does not resemble me or any of my ancestors.'"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh