Written by: Maulana Abu Al-Hasan Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani
"Let each of you ask his Lord for all his needs, even if the strap of his sandal breaks, he should ask Him for it."[Shu'ab al-Iman al-Bayhaqi (2/41) (1116), Majma' al-Zawaid (10/228), Sahih Ibn Hibban (2/240), Amal al-Yawm wa al-Layla by Ibn al-Sunni (354), Al-Kamil by Ibn 'Adi (6/208), Musnad al-Bazzar (3135), Musnad Abi Ya'la 6/130]
There is a difference of opinion regarding whether this hadith is mawsool (connected) or mursal (disconnected).
Imam Tirmidhi (may Allah have mercy on him) stated that this hadith is ghareeb (strange), as it has been narrated by many from Ja'far bin Sulayman, from Thabit al-Bunani, but without mentioning Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) between Thabit and the Prophet (peace be upon him). In other words, Imam Tirmidhi considered it ghareeb due to the singularity of Ja'far bin Sulayman and because most of Ja'far bin Sulayman's students narrated it as mursal rather than mawsool. The responses to this are as follows:
The Singularity of Ja'far bin Sulayman is Not Harmful:
This is because he is among the narrators of Sahih Muslim. Imam Ahmad, Imam Yahya bin Ma'in, Imam Ali bin al-Madini, Imam Ibn Hibban, Imam Abu Ahmad, and Ibn Sa'd, among others, have all declared him trustworthy.[Tahdhib al-Tahdhib 1/380, Taqrib al-Tahdhib p. 56, Al-Kashif 1/294, Tahdhib Siyar A'lam al-Nubala' 1/485, Al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil 2/481]
It Was Not Only Qutn bin Naseer Who Narrated it as Mawsool:
In Musnad al-Bazzar, Sayyar bin Hatim also narrated it as mawsool, corroborating Qutn's narration. Sayyar bin Hatim was deemed trustworthy by Al-Haythami in Majma' al-Zawaid.
Imam al-Dhahabi (may Allah have mercy on him) stated:"He is righteous and his hadith is sound, though he has some shortcomings. No one declared him weak."
However, Al-Azdi said: "He has some munkar (denounced) narrations."
[Al-Mughni fi al-Du'afa' 1/409]
At another place, Imam al-Dhahabi stated: "He is truthful."
[Al-Kashif 1/470]
Imam Ibn Hibban (may Allah have mercy on him) included him in his book Al-Thiqat (The Trustworthy).
[Kitab al-Thiqat 8/298]
Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (may Allah have mercy on him) stated: "He is truthful but makes mistakes."
[Taqrib al-Tahdhib p. 282]
Therefore, Qutn bin Naseer is hasan al-hadith (his narrations are good) and Sayyar bin Hatim, a trustworthy narrator, also narrated it as mawsool, making this hadith authentic. The rule among hadith scholars is that when there is a dispute between mawsool and mursal narrations, the ruling is given in favor of the mawsool narration, even if those who narrated it as mawsool are fewer in number.
Imam Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) stated:"Certainly, the correct and more accurate view, held by the jurists of Usul (Islamic jurisprudence) and the leading hadith scholars, is that when a hadith is narrated as both marfoo' (elevated) and mawquf (stopped), or as mawsool and mursal, the ruling is given in favor of the marfoo' and mawsool narrations. This is because it is an addition by a trustworthy narrator."
[Sharh Muslim by al-Nawawi 1/206]
From Imam Nawawi's principle, it is understood that since Qutn bin Naseer and Sayyar bin Hatim, both students of Ja'far bin Sulayman, narrated this hadith as mawsool, while other students narrated it as mursal, the ruling will be based on the mawsool narration. Thus, this hadith is authentic and free from any doubt.
Moreover, this hadith is supported by an authentic narration from Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her):
"Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: Ask Allah for everything, even for the strap of your sandal, because if Allah does not make it easy, it will not become easy."
This hadith indicates that one should strive to supplicate to Allah alone for all their needs and should only ask from Him.
Question:
I have come to know that the hadith about asking only from Allah is not considered authentic. Could you please provide guidance on the correct stance?Answer:
It is narrated by Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:"Let each of you ask his Lord for all his needs, even if the strap of his sandal breaks, he should ask Him for it."[Shu'ab al-Iman al-Bayhaqi (2/41) (1116), Majma' al-Zawaid (10/228), Sahih Ibn Hibban (2/240), Amal al-Yawm wa al-Layla by Ibn al-Sunni (354), Al-Kamil by Ibn 'Adi (6/208), Musnad al-Bazzar (3135), Musnad Abi Ya'la 6/130]
There is a difference of opinion regarding whether this hadith is mawsool (connected) or mursal (disconnected).
Imam Tirmidhi (may Allah have mercy on him) stated that this hadith is ghareeb (strange), as it has been narrated by many from Ja'far bin Sulayman, from Thabit al-Bunani, but without mentioning Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) between Thabit and the Prophet (peace be upon him). In other words, Imam Tirmidhi considered it ghareeb due to the singularity of Ja'far bin Sulayman and because most of Ja'far bin Sulayman's students narrated it as mursal rather than mawsool. The responses to this are as follows:
The Singularity of Ja'far bin Sulayman is Not Harmful:
This is because he is among the narrators of Sahih Muslim. Imam Ahmad, Imam Yahya bin Ma'in, Imam Ali bin al-Madini, Imam Ibn Hibban, Imam Abu Ahmad, and Ibn Sa'd, among others, have all declared him trustworthy.[Tahdhib al-Tahdhib 1/380, Taqrib al-Tahdhib p. 56, Al-Kashif 1/294, Tahdhib Siyar A'lam al-Nubala' 1/485, Al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil 2/481]
It Was Not Only Qutn bin Naseer Who Narrated it as Mawsool:
In Musnad al-Bazzar, Sayyar bin Hatim also narrated it as mawsool, corroborating Qutn's narration. Sayyar bin Hatim was deemed trustworthy by Al-Haythami in Majma' al-Zawaid.
Imam al-Dhahabi (may Allah have mercy on him) stated:"He is righteous and his hadith is sound, though he has some shortcomings. No one declared him weak."
However, Al-Azdi said: "He has some munkar (denounced) narrations."
[Al-Mughni fi al-Du'afa' 1/409]
At another place, Imam al-Dhahabi stated: "He is truthful."
[Al-Kashif 1/470]
Imam Ibn Hibban (may Allah have mercy on him) included him in his book Al-Thiqat (The Trustworthy).
[Kitab al-Thiqat 8/298]
Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (may Allah have mercy on him) stated: "He is truthful but makes mistakes."
[Taqrib al-Tahdhib p. 282]
Therefore, Qutn bin Naseer is hasan al-hadith (his narrations are good) and Sayyar bin Hatim, a trustworthy narrator, also narrated it as mawsool, making this hadith authentic. The rule among hadith scholars is that when there is a dispute between mawsool and mursal narrations, the ruling is given in favor of the mawsool narration, even if those who narrated it as mawsool are fewer in number.
Imam Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) stated:"Certainly, the correct and more accurate view, held by the jurists of Usul (Islamic jurisprudence) and the leading hadith scholars, is that when a hadith is narrated as both marfoo' (elevated) and mawquf (stopped), or as mawsool and mursal, the ruling is given in favor of the marfoo' and mawsool narrations. This is because it is an addition by a trustworthy narrator."
[Sharh Muslim by al-Nawawi 1/206]
From Imam Nawawi's principle, it is understood that since Qutn bin Naseer and Sayyar bin Hatim, both students of Ja'far bin Sulayman, narrated this hadith as mawsool, while other students narrated it as mursal, the ruling will be based on the mawsool narration. Thus, this hadith is authentic and free from any doubt.
Moreover, this hadith is supported by an authentic narration from Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her):
"Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: Ask Allah for everything, even for the strap of your sandal, because if Allah does not make it easy, it will not become easy."
This hadith indicates that one should strive to supplicate to Allah alone for all their needs and should only ask from Him.