Jabir ibn Abdullah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever has three daughters and he cares for them, he is merciful to them, and he clothes them, then Paradise is certainly required for him.” It was said, “O Messenger of Allah, what if he has only two?” The Prophet said, “Even two.” Some people thought that if they had said to him one, the Prophet would have said even one.
Source: Musnad Aḥmad 14247
Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Arna’ut
Imam al-Qari commented, “It is possible that the Prophet initially informed them of the ruling concerning three, and then a man said, ‘Or two?’ Thereupon he replied, ‘Or two,’ by means of a new revelation. So much so that had they said, ‘Or one?’ he would have agreed with them as well. This is based on Allah’s established custom toward this blessed community, owing to the perfection of His gentleness and generosity toward them. Through the blessing of the Prophet, this called forth mercy to encompass even those who fall short… The reason this prompted request occurred here is that there may not be three available to a person, or even two, such that he would otherwise be deprived of the reward, for they were eager to obtain reward from every possible avenue.”
Source: Mirqāt al-Mafātīḥ 8/3116
عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللهِ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ كُنَّ لَهُ ثَلَاثُ بَنَاتٍ يُؤْوِيهِنَّ وَيَرْحَمُهُنَّ وَيَكْفُلُهُنَّ وَجَبَتْ لَهُ الْجَنَّةُ الْبَتَّةَ قَالَ قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ كَانَتْ اثْنَتَيْنِ قَالَ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ اثْنَتَيْنِ قَالَ فَرَأَى بَعْضُ الْقَوْمِ أَنْ لَوْ قَالُوا لَهُ وَاحِدَةً لَقَالَ وَاحِدَةً
14247 مسند أحمد بن حنبل
22/150 المحدث شعيب الأرناؤوط خلاصة حكم المحدث صحيح في تخريج المسند
قال الملا على القاري وَيُمْكِنُ أَنَّهُ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَخْبَرَ عَنْ حُكْمِ الثَّلَاثِ وَقَالَ رَجُلٌ أَوِ اثْنَتَيْنِ فَقَالَ بِوَحْيٍ جَدِيدٍ أَوِ اثْنَتَيْنِ حَتَّى لَوْ قَالُوا أَوْ وَاحِدَةً لَوَافَقَهُمْ بِنَاءً عَلَى عَادَةِ اللَّهِ الْجَارِيَةِ لِلْأُمَّةِ الْمَرْحُومَةِ مِنْ كَمَالِ لُطْفِهِ وَكَرَمِهِ إِلَيْهِمْ بِبَرَكَتِهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ … اسْتَدْعَى أَنْ يَشْمَلَ الرَّحْمَةَ لِلْمُقَصِّرِينَ أَيْضًا وَإِنَّمَا وَقَعَ الِالْتِمَاسُ التَّلْقِينِيُّ هُنَا لِأَنَّهُ رُبَّمَا لَا تُوجَدُ عِنْدَ شَخْصٍ ثَلَاثَةٌ أَوِ اثْنَتَانِ فَيَصِيرُ مَحْرُومًا مِنَ الثَّوَابِ وَهُمْ حَرِيصُونَ عَلَى تَحْصِيلِهِ مِنْ كُلِّ بَابٍ
8/3116 مرقاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح كتاب الآداب باب الشفقة والرحمة على الخلق
