حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الصَّمَدِ وَعَفَّانُ قَالَا حَدَّثَنَا دَاوُدُ بْنُ أَبِي الْفُرَاتِ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ بُرَيْدَةَ قَالَ عَفَّانُ عَنِ ابْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ عَنْ أَبِي الْأَسْوَدِ الدِّيلِيِّ قَالَ أَتَيْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ وَقَدْ وَقَعَ بِهَا مَرَضٌ قَالَ عَبْدُ الصَّمَدِ فَهُمْ يَمُوتُونَ مَوْتًا ذَرِيعًا فَجَلَسْتُ إِلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ فَمَرَّتْ بِهِ جَنَازَةٌ فَأُثْنِيَ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا خَيْرٌ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ وَجَبَتْ ثُمَّ مُرَّ بِأُخْرَى فَأُثْنِيَ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا خَيْرٌ فَقَالَ وَجَبَتْ ثُمَّ مُرَّ بِأُخْرَى فَأُثْنِيَ عَلَيْهَا شَرٌّ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ وَجَبَتْ فَقَالَ أَبُو الْأَسْوَدِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَا وَجَبَتْ فَقَالَ قُلْتُ كَمَا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَيُّمَا مُسْلِمٍ شَهِدَ لَهُ أَرْبَعَةٌ بِخَيْرٍ إِلَّا أَدْخَلَهُ اللَّهُ الْجَنَّةَ قَالَ قُلْنَا وَثَلَاثَةٌ قَالَ وَثَلَاثَةٌ قُلْنَا وَاثْنَانِ قَالَ وَاثْنَانِ قَالَ وَلَمْ نَسْأَلْهُ عَنْ الْوَاحِدِ
مسند امام احمد بن حنبل · Hadith 318
It was narrated that Abul-Aswad ai-Deeli said: When I came to Madinah, sickness was occurring in the city. 'Abdus-Samad said: They were dying quickly. I sat with 'Umar bin al-Khattab (RA) and a funeral passed by. Good things were said about (the deceased) and 'Umar (RA) said: It is due. Then another (funeral) passed by; good things were said about (the deceased) and he said: It is due. Then another funeral passed by; bad things were said about the deceased and 'Umar said: It is due. I said: What is due, O Ameer al- Mu'mineen? He said: I say what the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Any Muslim in whose favour four people testify, Allah will admit him to Paradise." We said: Or three? He said: "Or three." We said: Or two? He said: "Or two." Then we did not ask him about one.
Translated by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan · Reviewed by Islamic University of Madinah · Published March 2020