✿ Written by: Ḥāfiẓ Khizr Ḥayāt
Honourable Shaykh, please clarify the chain of transmission (isnād) of the following ḥadīth:
It is narrated from Abū Umāmah رضي الله عنه that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"ماتحت ظل السمآء من الٰہ یعبد من دون اللہ تعالیٰ اعظم عند اللہ عزوجل من ھوی یتبع"
(Under the sky, among all deities worshipped besides Allah, the worst in the sight of Allah is the desire that is followed.)
(Ṭabarānī)
This narration has been transmitted by Imām Ṭabarānī in his book Al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr:
حدثنا محمد بن عثمان بن سعيد أبو عمر الضرير الكوفي، ثنا أحمد بن يونس، ثنا إسماعيل بن عياش، عن الحسن بن دينار، عن الخصيب بن جحدر، عن راشد بن سعد، عن أبي أمامة قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «ما تحت ظل السماء من إله يعبد من دون الله أعظم من عند الله من هوى متبع»
(Al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr, 8/103, Ḥadīth No. 7502)
This narration is also found in:
However, the chain in all these sources relies on two narrators:
① Al-Ḥasan ibn Dīnār
② Al-Khuṣayb ibn Jaḥdar
Both Al-Ḥasan ibn Dīnār and Al-Khuṣayb ibn Jaḥdar have been declared “matrūk al-ḥadīth” (abandoned in narration) by the scholars of ḥadīth.
Therefore, the chain of this narration is severely weak (سند سخت ضعیف ہے) and cannot be used as evidence.
Despite the weakness of the narration, the concept of following one's desires as a destructive force is clearly mentioned in the Qur’an:
"أَفَرَأَيْتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ إِلَـٰهَهُ هَوَاهُ وَأَضَلَّهُ اللَّـهُ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ وَخَتَمَ عَلَىٰ سَمْعِهِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَجَعَلَ عَلَىٰ بَصَرِهِ غِشَاوَةً فَمَن يَهْدِيهِ مِن بَعْدِ اللَّـهِ ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ"
(Al-Jāthiyah: 23)
Translation:
Have you seen the one who has taken his own desire as his god? Allah, knowing him as such, let him go astray, and sealed his hearing and his heart, and placed a covering over his vision. Who can guide him after Allah? Will you not then take heed?
Imām Ibn Baṭṭah said:
"أَعَاذَنَا اللَّهُ وَإِيَّاكُمْ مِنَ الْآرَاءِ الْمُخْتَرِعَةِ، وَالْأَهْوَاءِ الْمُتَّبِعَةِ، وَالْمَذَاهِبِ الْمُبْتَدِعَةِ..."
(Al-Ibānah al-Kubrā, 1/388)
Translation:
May Allah protect us and you from invented opinions, followed desires, and innovated ideologies—for indeed, their followers have moved from unity to division, from order to chaos, from love to hatred, from sincere counsel to treachery and hostility. May Allah safeguard us from every identity that contradicts Islam and Sunnah.
✔ The mentioned ḥadīth is severely weak due to the unreliability of its narrators and cannot be used as proof.
✔ However, the Qur’an and statements of scholars clearly warn against following one's desires, which leads to misguidance and divine displeasure.
✔ Muslims should avoid following personal desires and innovations, and instead remain steadfast upon the Qur’an and Sunnah.
❖ Question
Honourable Shaykh, please clarify the chain of transmission (isnād) of the following ḥadīth:
It is narrated from Abū Umāmah رضي الله عنه that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"ماتحت ظل السمآء من الٰہ یعبد من دون اللہ تعالیٰ اعظم عند اللہ عزوجل من ھوی یتبع"
(Under the sky, among all deities worshipped besides Allah, the worst in the sight of Allah is the desire that is followed.)
(Ṭabarānī)
❖ Authentication and Chain of the Hadith
This narration has been transmitted by Imām Ṭabarānī in his book Al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr:
حدثنا محمد بن عثمان بن سعيد أبو عمر الضرير الكوفي، ثنا أحمد بن يونس، ثنا إسماعيل بن عياش، عن الحسن بن دينار، عن الخصيب بن جحدر، عن راشد بن سعد، عن أبي أمامة قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «ما تحت ظل السماء من إله يعبد من دون الله أعظم من عند الله من هوى متبع»
(Al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr, 8/103, Ḥadīth No. 7502)
This narration is also found in:
- As-Sunnah by Ibn Abī ʿĀṣim
- Ḥilyat al-Awliyāʾ by Abū Nuʿaym
- Al-Ibānah by Ibn Baṭṭah
However, the chain in all these sources relies on two narrators:
① Al-Ḥasan ibn Dīnār
② Al-Khuṣayb ibn Jaḥdar
❖ Ruling on the Chain of Narration
Both Al-Ḥasan ibn Dīnār and Al-Khuṣayb ibn Jaḥdar have been declared “matrūk al-ḥadīth” (abandoned in narration) by the scholars of ḥadīth.
Therefore, the chain of this narration is severely weak (سند سخت ضعیف ہے) and cannot be used as evidence.
❖ Qur’anic Guidance on Following Desires
Despite the weakness of the narration, the concept of following one's desires as a destructive force is clearly mentioned in the Qur’an:
"أَفَرَأَيْتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ إِلَـٰهَهُ هَوَاهُ وَأَضَلَّهُ اللَّـهُ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ وَخَتَمَ عَلَىٰ سَمْعِهِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَجَعَلَ عَلَىٰ بَصَرِهِ غِشَاوَةً فَمَن يَهْدِيهِ مِن بَعْدِ اللَّـهِ ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ"
(Al-Jāthiyah: 23)
Translation:
Have you seen the one who has taken his own desire as his god? Allah, knowing him as such, let him go astray, and sealed his hearing and his heart, and placed a covering over his vision. Who can guide him after Allah? Will you not then take heed?
❖ Statement of Imām Ibn Baṭṭah رحمه الله
Imām Ibn Baṭṭah said:
"أَعَاذَنَا اللَّهُ وَإِيَّاكُمْ مِنَ الْآرَاءِ الْمُخْتَرِعَةِ، وَالْأَهْوَاءِ الْمُتَّبِعَةِ، وَالْمَذَاهِبِ الْمُبْتَدِعَةِ..."
(Al-Ibānah al-Kubrā, 1/388)
Translation:
May Allah protect us and you from invented opinions, followed desires, and innovated ideologies—for indeed, their followers have moved from unity to division, from order to chaos, from love to hatred, from sincere counsel to treachery and hostility. May Allah safeguard us from every identity that contradicts Islam and Sunnah.
❖ Summary
✔ The mentioned ḥadīth is severely weak due to the unreliability of its narrators and cannot be used as proof.
✔ However, the Qur’an and statements of scholars clearly warn against following one's desires, which leads to misguidance and divine displeasure.
✔ Muslims should avoid following personal desires and innovations, and instead remain steadfast upon the Qur’an and Sunnah.
