A Famous but Fabricated Hadith – Investigation and Clarification
Question:
A famous hadith is attributed that a Bedouin (villager) came to the court of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and asked various questions, to which the Prophet ﷺ kindly responded. The following hadith requires investigation:
According to the hadith:
“A Bedouin (villager) came to the court of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I want to ask something.’ He said, ‘Yes, speak.’ At that time, Hazrat Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه was also present in the court; he wrote down this blessed hadith and kept it with him.”
- Asked: O Messenger of Allah, I want to become wealthy?
He said: Be content, you will become wealthy. - Asked: I want to become the greatest scholar?
He said: Adopt piety, you will become a scholar. - Asked: I want to become honorable?
He said: Stop begging from people, you will become honorable. - Asked: I want to become a good person?
He said: Benefit people. - Asked: I want to become just?
He said: Like what you consider good for yourself, like that for others. - Asked: I want to become powerful?
He said: Trust in Allah. - Asked: I want a special status in the court of Allah?
He said: Remember Allah abundantly. - Asked: I want abundance in sustenance?
He said: Always be in a state of ablution. - Asked: I want my prayers to be accepted?
He said: Do not eat what is forbidden. - Asked: I want the completion of faith?
He said: Improve your character. - Asked: I want to meet Allah on the Day of Judgment free from sins?
He said: Perform ghusl immediately after janabah. - Asked: I want a reduction in sins?
He said: Frequently seek forgiveness. - Asked: I want to rise in light on the Day of Judgment?
He said: Stop oppressing others. - Asked: I want Allah to have mercy on me?
He said: Have mercy on the servants of Allah. - Asked: I want Allah to conceal my faults?
He said: Conceal the faults of others. - Asked: I want to avoid disgrace?
He said: Avoid adultery. - Asked: I want to become beloved to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ?
He said: Make beloved to you those who are beloved to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. - Asked: I want to be obedient to Allah?
He said: Fulfill the obligatory duties. - Asked: I want to be a doer of good?
He said: Worship Allah as if you see Him or as if He is seeing you. - Asked: O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, what will cool the fire of Hell?
He said: Patience in the trials of this world. - Asked: What cools the anger of Allah?
He said: Secret charity and maintaining ties of kinship. - Asked: What is the greatest evil?
He said: Bad character and stinginess. - Asked: What is the greatest good?
He said: Good manners, humility, and patience. - Asked: I want to avoid the anger of Allah?
He said: Stop getting angry at people.
(Published by: Qari Medicos Pak Gol Bazar, Faisalabad)
Answer:
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
This entire narration is fabricated, contrived, and baseless. Attributing it to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, is not correct. This narration is not present in any authentic book of Hadith, nor is there any evidence of its chain of narration.
Therefore, it is not permissible to quote this narration or to establish any belief or practice based on it.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
