“He has few narrations. The only criticism made of him is that he became confused in his old age; he was not deemed weak, because the substance of what he narrates is sound and not rejected—unless something entered into his hadith after he had changed and become confused.”
I say: Two matters indicate the soundness of this hadith of his—and that he had retained it accurately:
The first is the previously mentioned corroborating narration of Hishām ibn Ḥassān recorded by ʿAbd al-Razzāq.
The second is that it has supporting reports. I shall mention some of them:
- Abū Ḥassān said: I said to Abū Hurayrah, “Two sons of mine have died. Will you relate to us from the Messenger of Allah a hadith that may comfort us concerning our departed ones?” He said, “Yes:
‘Their little ones are the free-roaming creatures of Paradise. One of them will meet his father—or, he said, his parents—and take hold of his garment—or, he said, his hand—just as I am holding onto the hem of this garment of yours. He will not let go—or, he said, he will not stop—until Allah admits him and his father into Paradise.’”
Muslim recorded it (8/40), as did Aḥmad (2/510). Al-Bukhārī also narrated part of it in al-Adab al-Mufrad (47/145), up to the words: “Your little ones are the free-roaming creatures of Paradise.”
- Ibn Sīrīn also said:
Al-Zubayr brought his son ʿAbd Allah to the Prophet, and the Prophet said:
“No two believers lose three children except that Allah admits them into Paradise. He says to them, ‘Enter Paradise,’ but they say, ‘And our parents?!’ Then, on the third occasion, they are told, ‘And your parents as well.’”
ʿAbd al-Razzāq recorded it (11/139/20138), and its chain consists of trustworthy narrators; thus, it is an authentic mursal report.