Exposing Fabricated Hadiths on Abdal in Sufi Beliefs

This article is a research review on how some individuals from the Barelvi school of thought have attempted to equate the concept of “Abdal” in Ahl al-Sunnah (i.e., the scholars and companions of Hadith) with the Abdal of the Sufis (people of innovation). They presented some marfu’ narrations (attributed to the Prophet ﷺ) for this purpose, although none of these are authentically proven from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

In this research, we will:

❀ Present the opinions of the Muhaddithin on the chain of narration and text of each presented marfu’ narration. ❀ Clarify if the narration is weak, rejected, or fabricated. ❀ Finally, explain from the statements of Muhaddithin and Imams what is meant by “Abdal” according to Ahl al-Sunnah.

Original text (Al-Mu’jam al-Awsat by Al-Tabarani, Hadith 4101):

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ: نَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ زُرَيْقٍ الرَّاسِبِيُّ، قَالَ: نَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ بْنُ عَطَاءٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي عَرُوبَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:

«لَنْ تَخْلُوَ الْأَرْضُ مِنْ أَرْبَعِينَ رَجُلًا مِثْلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلِ الرَّحْمَنِ، فَبِهِمْ يُسْقَوْنَ، وَبِهِمْ يُنْصَرُونَ، مَا مَاتَ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا أَبْدَلَ اللهُ مَكَانَهُ آخَرَ»

Translation: Hazrat Anas (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “The earth will never be devoid of forty men like Ibrahim Khalil-ur-Rahman (AS). Through their blessings, people are given rain and through them, help is granted. When one of them passes away, Allah Almighty brings another in his place.”

① Reason: Ishaq bin Zuraiq Al-Rasbi — Unknown Status

❀ Allama Nooruddin Haithami: Arabic:

تفرّد به إسحاق بن زريق، قلت: ولم أجد من ترجمه، وبقية رجاله موثقون. Urdu: This narration has been uniquely transmitted by Ishaq bin Zuraiq, and I have not found any introduction (biography) of him; the other narrators are reliable.

② Explanation: Mention of Ishaq bin Zuraiq in Al-Thiqat by Ibn Hibban

Some people consider Ishaq bin Zuraiq reliable because he is mentioned in Al-Thiqat, but:

❀ Hafiz Dhahabi: Arabic:

ولا يفرح بذكر ابن حبان له في الثقات، فإن قاعدته معروفة من الاحتجاج بمن لا يعرف. Urdu: Ibn Hibban’s mentioning someone in Al-Thiqat is not a cause for reassurance, because he also accepts narrators who are unknown.

③ Allama Albani’s Ruling

❀ Allama Nasiruddin Albani: Arabic:

تفرد به إسحاق بن رزيق الراسبي، ولم أجد له ترجمة في شيء من كتب الرجال… وعلى أن الراوي عنه علي بن سعيد — وهو الرازي — ضعيف.Urdu: This narration is unique to Ishaq bin Raziq Al-Rasibi, whose introduction is not found in any books of Rijal… and the one narrating from him, Ali bin Saeed Al-Razi, is also weak.

Original text (Musnad Ahmad, 22751 etc.):

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ بْنُ عَطَاءٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ ذَكْوَانَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْوَاحِدِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ، عَنْ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ:

«الْأَبْدَالُ فِي هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ ثَلَاثُونَ، مِثْلُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلِ الرَّحْمَنِ، كُلَّمَا مَاتَ رَجُلٌ أَبْدَلَ اللَّهُ مَكَانَهُ رَجُلًا»

Translation: Hazrat Ubada bin Samit (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “In this Ummah, there will be thirty (30) Abdal who will be like Ibrahim Khalil-ur-Rahman (AS). Whenever one of them dies, Allah will replace him with another.”

Reason: Abdul Wahid bin Qais — Weak and Munkar al-Hadith

❀ Hafiz Dhahabi: Arabic:

عبد الواحد بن قيس… منكر الحديث.Urdu: Abdul Wahid bin Qais is munkar al-hadith (narrator of munkar narrations).

❀ Imam Bukhari: Arabic:

عبد الواحد بن قيس… قال يحيى القطان: كان الحسن بن ذكوان يحدث عنه بعجائب.Urdu: Regarding Abdul Wahid bin Qais, Yahya Al-Qattan said: Hasan bin Zikwan used to narrate strange and bizarre narrations from him.

❀ Ibn Hibban: Arabic:

مِمَّن ينْفَرد بِالْمَنَاكِيرِ عَن الْمَشَاهِير، فَلَا يجوز الِاحْتِجَاج بِمَا خَالف الثِّقَات.Urdu: He is alone in narrating munkar (rejected) narrations from well-known trustworthy narrators, and when he contradicts the trustworthy narrators, it is not permissible to take him as proof.

❀ Abu Hatim Al-Razi: Arabic:

لا يعجبني حديثه. Urdu: I do not like his hadith.

Original text (Al-Mustadrak ala al-Sahihayn by Al-Hakim):

… عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ زُرَيْرٍ الْغَافِقِيِّ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، يَقُولُ:

«سَتَكُونُ فِتْنَةٌ… فَإِنَّ فِيهِمُ الْأَبْدَالَ، وَعَنْ قَرِيبٍ يُسْقَى النَّاسُ بِهِمْ»

Translation: Abdullah bin Zarir al-Ghafqi narrates that I heard Hazrat Ali bin Abi Talib رضي الله عنه saying: “A trial will arise… there will be Abdal among the people of Sham, and soon through them, people will be given rain.”

Reason: Abdullah bin Zarir al-Ghafqi — Unknown Status

❀ Imam Bukhari: Arabic:

عبد الله بن زرير الغافقي… روى عنه أبو الخير مرثد… لا يعرف. Urdu: Abdullah bin Zarir al-Ghafqi… Abu al-Khair Marthad narrates from him… he is not known (meaning unknown).

❀ Ibn Abi Hatim: Arabic:

عبد الله بن زرير الغافقي… سَمِعَ عليًّا… (ذِكْرٌ بلا جرح ولا تعديل) Urdu: Abdullah bin Zarir al-Ghafqi… narrates from Hazrat Ali رضي الله عنه… neither criticism nor praise was mentioned, therefore unknown status.

❀ Ibn al-Qattan al-Fasi: Arabic:

عبد الله بن زرير… مجهول الحال. Urdu: Abdullah bin Zarir… has unknown status.

❀ Hafiz Dhahabi: Arabic:

عبد الله بن زرير الغافقي… لا يعرف. Urdu: Abdullah bin Zarir al-Ghafqi… is not known (meaning unknown).

Original text (Al-Mu’jam al-Kabir by Al-Tabarani):

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو زُرْعَةَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَمْرٍو الدِّمَشْقِيُّ، ثنا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ الصُّورِيُّ، ثنا عَمْرُو بْنُ وَاقِدٍ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي مَالِكٍ، عَنْ شَهْرِ بْنِ حَوْشَبٍ…

«فِي أَهْلِ الشَّامِ الأَبْدَالُ، وَبِهِمْ تُنْصَرُونَ، وَبِهِمْ تُرْزَقُونَ»

Translation: It is narrated from Auf bin Malik رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “There will be Abdal among the people of Sham, through whom your help will be granted and through whom you will be provided sustenance.”

Reason for the Chain: Amr bin Waqid al-Dimashqi — Munkar al-Hadith

❀ Imam Bukhari Arabic:

عَمْرُو بْنُ وَاقِدٍ… مُنْكَرُ الْحَدِيثِ. Translation: Amr bin Waqid is munkar al-hadith.

✿ Conclusion of the Reason: ◈ Due to the central narrator being “munkar al-hadith,” this narration is not acceptable as evidence. ◈ Furthermore, in the chain, Shahr bin Hawshab has also been pointed out by the highest-ranking Imams for frequent errors (awham) / irsal; therefore, the strengthening of the text is also not available.

Original Text (Mizan al-I’tidal, Hafiz al-Zahbi):

أَخْبَرَنَاهُ سُلَيْمَانُ الْحَاكِمُ، … عَنِ الرِّجَالِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ:

«الأَبْدَالُ مِنَ المَوَالِي، وَلَا يُبْغِضُ المَوَالِي إِلَّا مُنَافِقٌ»

Translation: Hazrat Ata narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The Abdal will be from the Mawali, and only a hypocrite harbors enmity towards the Mawali.”

Reason for the Chain: Al-Rijal bin Salim — Unknown Status

❀ Hafiz al-Zahbi Arabic:

الرِّجَالُ بْنُ سَالِمٍ… لا يُدْرَى مَنْ هُوَ، والخبر فمنكر. Translation: Al-Rijal bin Salim… his reality is unknown (he is unknown), and the report is munkar.

✿ Further weakness: ◈ This narration is also mursal because Hazrat Ata is a Tabi’i and no Sahabi is mentioned in the chain. ◈ Along with Ata’s narration being mursal, the presence of an unknown narrator makes it very weak.

Original text (Hilyat al-Awliya by Abu Nu’aym):

حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْخَزَرِ الطَّبَرَانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي زَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ هَارُونَ الصُّورِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَوْزَاعِيُّ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ:

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ: «خِيَارُ أُمَّتِي فِي كُلِّ قَرْنٍ خَمْسُمِائَةٍ، وَالأَبْدَالُ أَرْبَعُونَ، فَلا الخَمْسُمِائَةُ يَنْقُصُونَ، وَلا الأَرْبَعُونَ، كُلَّمَا مَاتَ رَجُلٌ أَبْدَلَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مِنَ الخَمْسِمِائَةِ مَكَانَهُ، وَأَدْخَلَ مِنَ الأَرْبَعِينَ مَكَانَهُ»

Translation: It is narrated from Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “In every era of my Ummah, there will be five hundred best people and the Abdal will be forty. Their number will never decrease. Whenever a person dies, Allah will replace him from among the five hundred, and will include a new one in the forty.”

① Reason: Saeed bin Abi Zaid — Unknown

This narrator is unknown according to the Muhaddithun and no authentic verification has been established.

② Reason: Abdullah bin Haroon al-Suri — Unknown

❀ Hafiz Dhahabi: Arabic:

عبد الله بن هارون الصوري، عن الأوزاعي، لا يُعرف، والخبر كذب في أخلاق الأبدال. Urdu: Abdullah bin Haroon al-Suri, who narrates from Awza’i, is La Yu’raf (i.e., unknown), and the report he brought about the Abdal is false.

Original Text (Al-Awliya by Ibn Abi Dunya):

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، نَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، نَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْمُحَارِبِيُّ، عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ خُنَيْسٍ، يَرْفَعُهُ، قَالَ:«عَلامَةُ أَبْدَالِ أُمَّتِي أَنَّهُمْ لَا يَلْعَنُونَ شَيْئًا أَبَدًا»

Translation: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The sign of the Abdal of my Ummah is that they never curse anything.”

① Illat: Abdul Rahman bin Muhammad Al-Muharbi — Mudallis (practised tadlis)

❀ Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal: Arabic:

بلغنا أن المحاربي كان يدلس. Urdu: It has reached us that Al-Muharbi used to practice tadlis.

② Illat: Bakr bin Khunais — Matruk / Dhaahib al-Hadith (Rejected narrator)

❀ Abu Zur‘ah al-Razi: Arabic:

بكر بن خنيس؟ قال: ذاهب. Urdu: Bakr bin Khunais? He said: He is completely unreliable (Dhaahib) in hadith.

❀ Hafiz Dhahabi: Arabic:

بكر بن خنيس متروك. Urdu: Bakr bin Khunais is Matruk al-Hadith (abandoned narrator).

Original Text (Al-Majruhin by Ibn Hibban):

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَرْزُوقِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ أَبُو عَوْفٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْوَهَّابِ بْنِ عَطَاءِ الْخَفَّافِ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ:

«لَنْ تَخْلُوَ الأَرْضُ مِنْ ثَلاثِينَ مِثْلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلِ الرَّحْمَنِ، بِهِمْ تُغَاثُونَ، وَبِهِمْ تُرْزَقُونَ، وَبِهِمْ تُمْطَرُونَ»

Translation: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The earth will never be devoid of thirty people like Ibrahim Khalil ar-Rahman (peace be upon him). Through them your supplications are answered, through them you are provided sustenance, and through them rain descends upon you.”

Illat: Abdul Rahman bin Marzuq bin Awf — Waddā‘ (Fabricator of Hadith)

❀ Imam Ibn Hibban: Arabic:

شيخ… يضع الحديث، لا يحل ذكره إلا على سبيل القدح فيه.Urdu: This person used to fabricate hadith, and his mention can only be for the purpose of criticism.

✿ Conclusion:◈ Due to the narrator being a fabricator (liar), this narration is fabricated (false).

Original Text (Shu’ab al-Iman by Al-Bayhaqi):

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عَبْدَانَ، أَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ، نَا ابْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، نَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى، أَنَا سَلَمَةُ بْنُ رَجَاءٍ، عَنْ صَالِحِ الْمُرِّيِّ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ أَوْ غَيْرِهِ، قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ:

«إِنَّ أَبْدَالَ أُمَّتِي لَمْ يَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ بِالْأَعْمَالِ، وَلَكِنْ إِنَّمَا دَخَلُوهَا بِرَحْمَةِ اللهِ، وَسَخَاوَةِ النُّفُوسِ، وَسَلَامَةِ الصُّدُورِ، وَرَحْمَةٍ لِجَمِيعِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ»

Translation: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Indeed, the substitutes of my Ummah will not enter Paradise because of their deeds, but they will enter Paradise because of Allah’s mercy, generosity of heart, peace of chests, and mercy upon all Muslims.”

Cause: Salih bin Bashir Al-Mari — Munkar al-Hadith

❀ Imam Bukhari: Arabic:

صَالِحُ بْنُ بَشِيرٍ أَبُو بَشَرٍ الْمِرِّيُّ… مُنْكَرُ الْحَدِيثِ.Urdu: Salih bin Bashir Abu Bishr Al-Mari… is munkar al-hadith.

❀ Imam Nasai: Arabic:

صَالِحُ الْمِرِّيُّ مَتْرُوكُ الحَدِيثِ بَصْرِيٌّ.Urdu: Salih Al-Mari Al-Basri is abandoned in hadith.

✿ Further Weakness:◈ The narration is also mursal from Hasan Basri (may Allah have mercy on him), hence there is also a discontinuity.

Original Text (Al-Mu’jam al-Kabir by Al-Tabarani):

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ الْمَكِّيُّ، ثنا ثَابِتُ بْنُ عَيَّاشٍ الْأَحْدَبُ، ثنا أَبُو رَجَاءٍ الْكَلْبِيُّ، ثنا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ وَهْبٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ:

«لَا يَزَالُ أَرْبَعُونَ رَجُلًا مِنْ أُمَّتِي قُلُوبُهُمْ عَلَى قَلْبِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، يَدْفَعُ اللهُ بِهِمْ عَنْ أَهْلِ الأَرْضِ، يُقَالُ لَهُمُ الأَبْدَالُ»

Translation: Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “There will always be forty people in my Ummah whose hearts will be like the heart of Ibrahim (AS). Allah will remove calamities from the people of the earth through them; they are called the Abdal.”

① Reason: Ahmad bin Dawood Al-Makki — Unknown

This narrator is considered unknown by the Muhaddithin, and no reliable authentication is found for him.

② Reason: Thabit bin Ayyash Al-Ahdab and Abu Raja Al-Kalbi — Unknown status

❀ Allama Nooruddin Haithami: Arabic:

رواه الطبراني من رواية ثابت بن عياش الأَحدب، عن أبي رجاء الكلبي، وكلاهما لم أَعْرِفْهُ، وبقية رجاله رجال الصحيح. Translation: Al-Tabarani narrated from Thabit bin Ayyash Al-Ahdab and Abu Raja Al-Kalbi, and I do not know either of them (meaning they are unknown), the rest of the narrators are from the authentic narrators.

③ Further criticism: Abu Raja Al-Kalbi

❀ Ibn ‘Adi: Arabic:

يُرْوَى عَنْهُ أَحَادِيثُ غَيْرُ مَحْفُوظَة. Translation: Non-preserved (ghayr mahfuz) hadiths are narrated from him.

Original text (Karamat al-Awliya by Al-Khallal):

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ شَاذَانَ، حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ الصَّابُونِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ أَيُّوبَ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو عُمَرَ الْغَدَائِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو سَلَمَةَ الْخُرَاسَانِيُّ، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ:قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ: «الأَبْدَالُ أَرْبَعُونَ رَجُلاً وَأَرْبَعُونَ امْرَأَةً، كُلَّمَا مَاتَ رَجُلٌ أَبْدَلَ اللهُ مَكَانَهُ رَجُلاً، وَكُلَّمَا مَاتَتِ امْرَأَةٌ أَبْدَلَ اللهُ مَكَانَهَا امْرَأَةً»

Translation: Hazrat Anas bin Malik (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “The Abdal are forty men and forty women. When one of these men dies, Allah brings another man in his place, and when a woman dies, Allah brings another woman in her place.”

① Ruling of the Hadith: Allama Albani

❀ Allama Nasiruddin Albani: Arabic:

قلت: وهذا إسناد ضعيف مظلم، من دون عطاء لم أعرف أحدًا منهم. Urdu: I say: Its chain of narration is weak and ambiguous; I do not know any of the narrators below Ata (i.e. between the compiler and Ata).

Original Text (Musnad Imam Ahmad):

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْمُغِيرَةِ، حَدَّثَنَا صَفْوَانُ، حَدَّثَنِي شُرَيْحٌ يَعْنِي ابْنَ عُبَيْدٍ، قَالَ: ذُكِرَ أَهْلُ الشَّامِ عِنْدَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، فَقَالُوا: الْعَنْهُمْ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، قَالَ: لَا، إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ: «الأَبْدَالُ يَكُونُونَ بِالشَّامِ، وَهُمْ أَرْبَعُونَ رَجُلًا، كُلَّمَا مَاتَ رَجُلٌ أَبْدَلَ اللهُ مَكَانَهُ رَجُلًا، يُسْقَى بِهِمُ الْغَيْثُ، وَيُنْتَصَرُ بِهِمْ عَلَى الأَعْدَاءِ، وَيُصْرَفُ عَنْ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ بِهِمِ الْعَذَابُ»

Translation: It is narrated from Hazrat Ali bin Abi Talib (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “The Abdal will be in Sham, and they will be forty men. When one dies, Allah will bring another man in his place. Through them, rain is sent down, through them help is granted against enemies, and through their blessings, the punishment is averted from the people of Sham.”

① Reason: Discontinuity in the chain — the hearing of Shurayh bin Ubaid from Ali (RA) is not established

❀ Shu’ayb al-Arna’ut: Arabic:

إسناده ضعيف لانقطاعه، شريح بن عبيد لم يُدرك عليًا.Urdu: Its chain is broken because the meeting of Shuraih bin Ubaid with Hazrat Ali (RA) is not established.

② Reason: Shuraih bin Ubaid — Mudallis

❀ Allama Nooruddin Haithami: Arabic:

شريح بن عبيد… ثقة مدلس، اختلف في سماعه من الصحابة لتدليسه.Urdu: Shuraih bin Ubaid is trustworthy but a mudallis, and there is disagreement about his hearing from the Companions because of his tadlis.

③ Clarification of Discontinuity — Ibn Asakir

❀ Ibn Asakir: Arabic:

فهذا منقطع بين شريح وعلي، فإنه لم يلقه.Urdu: This narration is disconnected between Shuraih and Hazrat Ali (RA) because he did not meet him.

❀ Muhammad bin Darwish Shafi’i (d. 1277 AH)

Arabic:

422 – حَدِيث: “الأبدال في هذه الأمة ثلاثون رجلاً، قلوبهم على قلب إبراهيم خليل الرحمن، كلما مات رجل أبدل الله مكانه رجلاً”. رواه أحمد عن عبادة بن الصامت، وله روايات وطرقها ضعيفة. Urdu: This hadith “There will be thirty Abdal in this Ummah…” has been narrated by Imam Ahmad from Ubada bin Samit (RA), all its narrations and chains are weak.

❀ Hafiz Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (d. 751 AH)

Arabic:

ومن ذلك أحاديث الأبدال، والأقطاب، والأغواث، والنقباء، والنجباء، والأوتاد، كلها باطلة على رسول الله ﷺ.Urdu: All the narrations attributed to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ regarding Abdal, Aqtab, Aghwath, Nuqaba, Nujaba, and Awtaad are all false.

❀ Ibn al-Jawzi (d. 597 AH)

Arabic:

… ليس في هذه الأحاديث شيء يصح.Urdu: None of these hadiths about the Abdal are authentic.

In this regard, many Barelvi scholars also present some sayings that such and such person was counted among the Abdal. For example:

• The statement of Saeed bin Abi Arooba that Hasan Basri is among the Abdal.
• Imam Dhahabi calling some Huffaz as Abdal.
• Imam Shafi‘i counting some virtuous person among the Abdal.

❀ Answer:

All this is about the “Abdal of Ahl al-Sunnah,” meaning the people of knowledge and the companions of hadith, not the innovated Sufi Abdal.

📜 Explanation of the Muhaddithin — Abdal = Ahl al-Hadith

① Yazid bin Harun (died 206 AH)

Arabic:

سُئِلَ يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ: مَنِ الأبدال؟ قال: أهل العلم.Urdu: When asked who the Abdal are, he said: The people of knowledge.

② Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal (died 241 AH)

Arabic:

إن لم يكن أصحاب الحديث هم الأبدال، فمن يكون؟Urdu: If the Abdal do not mean the companions of hadith, then who are they?

③ Salih bin Muhammad al-Razi (trustworthy Muhaddith)

Arabic:

إذا لم يكن أصحاب الحديث هم الأبدال، فلا أدري من الأبدال.Urdu: If the Abdal are not the companions of hadith, then I do not know who the Abdal are.

📜 Summary of the Topic

① Some individuals from the Barelvi school of thought have tried to confuse the “Abdal” of Ahl al-Sunnah (i.e., the companions of Hadith and scholars) with the Abdal of the Sufis. ② For this purpose, they presented numerous marfu’ narrations, but research has proven that none of these narrations are authentic in their chain of transmission. ③ Among these narrations, there were narrators who were unknown, weak, abandoned, tadlis (those who conceal defects in the chain), and even fabricators (those who forge hadith). ④ Hadith scholars such as Bukhari, Ibn Hibban, Nasai, Dhahabi, Ibn Adi, and Albani, etc., have criticized these narrations or their narrators. ⑤ According to the Imams of Hadith, the term “Abdal” applies to scholars, muhaddithin, and companions of Hadith, not to the heretical Sufis.

⚖️ Conclusion

❀ No narration about the Abdal from the Prophet ﷺ has been proven with an authentic chain. ❀ The concept of Abdal in the correct context is as explained by the muhaddithin and Imams: that is, scholars and companions of Hadith. ❀ Establishing belief or virtue from these weak and fabricated narrations is against scholarly principles.