The hadith also has a supporting narration, with an authentic chain of transmission, from Abū Hurayrah, attributed to the Prophet; it is cited in al-Irwāʾ (826). Its opening words also have two further supporting narrations from Abū Umāmah and Abū Dharr, cited there under (889). There is another supporting narration from the hadith of ʿAbd Allāh ibn Ḥubshī, attributed to the Prophet. Aḥmad recorded it (3/411–412), and its chain of transmission is authentic according to Muslim’s criteria.

567 — “No Muslim servant who spends two of every kind of wealth he possesses in the cause of Allah will fail to be received by all the gatekeepers of Paradise, each inviting him to that which is under his charge.” I said, “How is that?” He replied: “If it is camels, then two camels; and if it is cattle, then two cows.”

Al-Nasāʾī (2/66), al-Dārimī (1/204), Ibn Ḥibbān (1649–1652), al-Ḥākim (2/86), and Aḥmad (5/151, 153, 159, 164) recorded it through various chains from al-Ḥasan, from Ṣaʿṣaʿah ibn Muʿāwiyah, who said: “I met Abū Dharr and said, ‘Tell me something.’ He said, ‘Certainly. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said …’” He then cited it. The wording is that of al-Nasāʾī. Aḥmad and Ibn Ḥibbān added: “No two Muslims whose three children die before reaching the age of accountability will fail to be admitted by Allah into Paradise, by virtue of His mercy toward them.” Al-Nasāʾī also recorded this in al-Janāʾiz (1/256). Al-Ḥākim said: “Its chain of transmission is authentic,” and al-Dhahabī agreed with him.

I say: It is as they said, were it not for al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī’s use of an unexplicit ‘from’ narration. However, in two routes recorded by Aḥmad, he explicitly stated that he heard it. Thus, it meets the criteria of both al-Bukhārī and Muslim. Ṣaʿṣaʿah was a Companion, may Allah be pleased with him.