Taking Care of Three Daughters or Sisters

On the authority of Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri – may Allah be pleased with him; the Messenger of Allah - صلى الله عليه وسلم - said:

Whoever has three daughters, or three sisters, or two daughters, or two sisters and is a beneficent companion to them, and fears Allah concerning them, then for him is Jannah

Whoever has three daughters or three sisters

Or here is for variety, not for doubt, likewise is the case for two daughters and two sisters.

And is beneficent to them and fears Allah concerning them

Is beneficent to them

and is patient with them

...and feeds, gives them to drink and clothes them.

In the Hadeeth of ibn ‘Abbss collected by at Tabarani;

...spends his wealth on them, gets them married and properly raises

In the Hadeeth of Jabir that was collected by Ahmad as well as in al-Adab al-Mufrad;

teaches them good behaviour, is merciful towards them and assumes responsibility over them.

At Tabarani added;

and gets them married.

Al-Hafidh (ibn Hajar) states in al-Fath after mentioning all these narations;

These wordings are combined in the meaning of the word 'Ihsaan - beneficence'

They would be a barrier from the hell fire for him

Meaning his reward for this would be protection from the Hellfire, a barrier between him and it.

In this Hadeeth is an emphasis on the rights of girls over the rights of boys due to their weakness, in most cases, concerning the handling of their interests. In contrast to boys, due to their physical strength, commanding speech, and ability to handle the affairs of their interests in most cases.

The scholars differed concerning the beneficence that is directed towards girls, is it restricted to what is obligated or does it surpass that, and the latter seems to be correct.

The condition of beneficence is that it is in accordance to the Islamic legislation, not in what contradicts it. It appears that the reward mentioned is only attained if the person continues with this beneficence until the girls are no longer in need of him, due to marriage or otherwise.

^{[Benefits related to the chain of narrators and the Arabic language have been omitted.]}

No one from my Ummah who takes care of three girls

Meaning takes responsibility for all their needs, including feeding and clothing them.

or three sisters

Meaning his sisters

and is beneficent towards them

Meaning in addition to taking care of them, is good to them while living with them. Such that he does not remind them of his favors, nor does he display discomfort or signs of tiring towards them.

except that

Meaning the reward for doing this for them...

they would be a barrier from the Hellfire from him

Meaning a protection from entering the Hellfire. Because just as he protected them in the life of this world from the lowliness of asking others, and preserved their reputations by preventing them from being in need of others who may lure them into fornication. He would be rewarded a great reward for this.

^{[Benefits related to the chain of narrotors and the Arabic language have been omitted.]}

On the authority of ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him: The Messenger of Allah - صلى الله عليه وسلم - said:

...and whoever takes care of three daughters, or three sisters and raises them with good manerisms, is merciful towards them until Allah grants them independence, Allah would obligate the entrance to Jannah for him.

A man said: 'O Messenger of Allah; or two? He responded:

Or two.

Even if they said one, he would have said one…

There is not a person who takes care of three girls, and is good to them, except that they would be a barrier between him and the Fire.

He was asked: And two daughters, O Messenger of Allah? He responded:

Or two.

He was asked; or one? He responded:

Or one.

When al Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy upon him, was told that he was blessed with a daughter he said:

"Prophets had daughters! Prophets had daughters! Prophets, may the Salat and Salam be upon them, had daughters! This is the best of prophets, Muhammad - صلى الله عليه وسلم - and he had four daughters and three sons."

On the authority of Abu Sa’eed al Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him:

Whoever takes care of three girls, raises them with good mannerisms, gets them married and is beneficent towards them, then for him is Jannah.

This is whether they are daughters or sisters. All of this is included in the generality of this Hadeeth. As long as he is the one who is responsible for them, is beneficent towards them, raises them until they reach the age of marriage and gets them married, his reward with Allah the Mighty is Jannah!

Regarding sisters whose father has passed away, and their brother takes responsibility for them by supporting them and being good to them. This situation enters under the umbrella of the virtue of one who takes care of an orphan. As for daughters, they are not considered to be orphans. However, there is tremendous reward in being good to them, from Allah the Mighty and Majestic.

Whoever takes care of three girls

Meaning takes responsibility for them and for their provision.

and raises them with good mannerisms

Meaning with the mannerisms of the Islamic Legislation, as well as educates them.

and is beneficent to them

Al-Manawi stated: By enjoining ties with them and visiting them after they get married.

For him is Jannah!

Meaning he will enter it with the foremost who enter it.

In this Hadeeth is an emphasis of the rights of girls over boys due to their weakness in seeking a means of provision for themselves.