Hadith 4077

(حديث مرفوع) حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ ، قَالَ : أَخْبَرَنَا الْعَوَّامُ ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ ، مَوْلًى لِعُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ ، عَنْ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ ، قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : " مَنْ قَدَّمَ ثَلَاثَةً لَمْ يَبْلُغُوا الْحِنْثَ ، كَانُوا لَهُ حِصْنًا حَصِينًا مِنَ النَّارِ " ، فَقَالَ أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ : قَدَّمْتُ اثْنَيْنِ ؟ قَالَ : " وَاثْنَيْنِ " ، فَقَالَ أُبَيُّ بْنُ كَعْبٍ أَبُو الْمُنْذِرِ سَيِّدُ الْقُرَّاءِ : قَدَّمْتُ وَاحِدًا ، قَالَ : " وَوَاحِدٌ ، وَلَكِنْ ذَاكَ فِي أَوَّلِ صَدْمَةٍ " .
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If three children of a Muslim husband and wife die before reaching puberty, they will become a strong fortress for them against Hell." Someone asked: O Messenger of Allah! What if someone has lost two children? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The same ruling applies." Sayyiduna Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) said: O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! I have sent forth two children? He replied: "The same ruling applies." Sayyiduna Ubayy ibn Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him) — who is famous as the leader of the reciters — said: Only one of my children has died? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The same ruling applies to him, but this matter is related to the initial moments of grief (as to who is patient at that time and who is not, because later on everyone becomes patient)."
Hadith Reference مسند احمد / مسند المكثرين من الصحابة / 4077
Hadith Grading حکم دارالسلام: صحيح لغيره، وهذا إسناد ضعيف لانقطاعه، أبو عبيدة لم يسمع من ابن مسعود، ولجهالة حال أبى محمد.