- “The young children are the little 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 the edge of your garment here. He will not let go until Allah admits both him and his father into Paradise.”
Muslim (8/41) and Ahmad (2/488, 510) narrated it through Sulayman al-Taymi, from Abu al-Salil, from Abu Hassan, who said: “I said to Abu Hurayrah, ‘Two of my sons have died. What hadith can you relate to us from the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, that will comfort us regarding our departed ones?’ He replied, ‘Yes,’ and then related it.”
- “The most beloved servants of Allah to Allah are those of finest character.”
Al-Suyuti cited it in this form in al-Jamiʿ al-Saghir, attributing it to al-Tabarani on the authority of Usamah ibn Sharik. The original report narrated from him is as follows: “He said: We were sitting with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, as though birds were perched upon our heads; not one of us spoke. Then some people came to him and asked, ‘Which of Allah’s servants are most beloved to Allah?’ He replied, ‘Those of finest character.’”
Al-Mundhiri (3/259) and al-Haythami (8/24) cited it in this manner as narrated by al-Tabarani, and they said: “Its narrators are relied upon in the Sahih collections.” The wording is that of the former, who added: “Ibn Hibban also narrated it in his Sahih.” In one version narrated by Ibn Hibban, it is similar, except that it states: “They said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what is the best thing a person may be given?’ He replied, ‘Good character.’”
Al-Hakim and al-Bayhaqi also narrated it in a similar form. Al-Hakim said: “It is authentic according to their criteria, but they did not record it because Usamah had only one narrator.”
That is what he said, but it is not correct, for Ziyad ibn ʿAlaqah, Ibn al-Aqmar, and others narrated from him.