Hadith 53
Looking after children
Abu 'Uthman reported that 'Umar wanted to appoint a man as governor. The governor said, "I have such-and-such a number of children and I have never kissed any of them." 'Umar said, "Allah Almighty will only show mercy to the kindest of His slaves."
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو النُّعْمَانِ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي عُثْمَانَ، أَنَّ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ اسْتَعْمَلَ رَجُلاً، فَقَالَ الْعَامِلُ: إِنَّ لِي كَذَا وَكَذَا مِنَ الْوَلَدِ، مَا قَبَّلْتُ وَاحِدًا مِنْهُمْ، فَزَعَمَ عُمَرُ، أَوْ قَالَ عُمَرُ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لاَ يَرْحَمُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ إِلاَّ أَبَرَّهُمْ.
Hadith gradings, numbering and translations can differ between editions. For legal rulings or detailed interpretation, consult qualified scholarship and the referenced edition.