Musnad Ibn Hanbal ...

Musnad Ibn Hanbal , narrating from al-Ash’ath ibn Qays who said: “I went to the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) accompanied by the representatives of the tribe of Kindah and he asked me: “Do you have a child?” I answered: “At the time I left home to come to you, a boy was born to me from the daughter of Jadd[^13], but I wished that instead of that I could satiate my family.” The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “Never say that, because in children is the comfort of the eye [if they stay alive] and they are the cause of reward if they are taken away.

However, if you say that they are the cause of fear and sorrow then yes they are the cause of fear and sorrow.”[^14] 14. Imam al-Sajjad (a.s.) said: “A part of a man’s happiness is having a child who assists him.”[^15] 15. Imam al-Kazim (a.s.) said: “A person is happy when he sees an offspring for himself before his death.”[^16] 16.

al-Kafi , narrating from Bakr ibn Salih who wrote to Abu al-Hasan [Imam al-Kazim] (a.s.): “I have been avoiding having a child for five years, and it’s because my wife does not like it and she says that it will be difficult to raise them due to lack of wealth. What is your opinion?” He wrote back: “Seek in having a child, for Allah will provide their sustenance.”[^17] 17.

.13مسند ابن حنبل عن الأشعث ابن قيس: قَدِمتُ عَلى رَسولِ الله صلى الله عليه وآله في وَفدِ كِندَةَ، فَقالَ لي: هَل لَكَ مِن وَلَدٍ؟ قُلتُ: غُلامٌ وُلِدَ لِي في مَخرَجي إلَيكَ مِن ابنَةِ جَدٍّ، و لَوَدِدتُ أنَّ مَكانَهُ شِبعُ القَومِ!