Verification of the Ḥadīth: Man Kuntu Mawlāhu and Anā Madīnat al-ʿIlm wa ʿAlī Bābuhā
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah (Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām), vol. 2, p. 267
What is the authenticity of these two narrations?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
References:
Detailed Analysis and References:
In Sunan al-Tirmidhī (ḥadīth no. 3723), a narration states:
“أنا دار الحكمة وعلي بابها”
Chain defects in this version:
All other chains for this narration are also severely weak and rejected.
ھٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah (Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām), vol. 2, p. 267
❖ Question
- من كنت مولاه فعلي مولاه
- أنا مدينة العلم وعلي بابها
What is the authenticity of these two narrations?
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
① Ḥadīth: من كنت مولاه فعلي مولاه
- This ḥadīth is authentic and mutawātir.
- Its authenticity is affirmed by the testimony of the ḥadīth scholars.
References:
- Monthly al-Ḥadīth, Hazro, vol. 3, issue 11, serial no. 18, p. 46
- Naẓm al-Mutanāthir min al-Ḥadīth al-Mutawātir, p. 206, ḥadīth no. 232
- Qaṭf al-Azhār al-Mutanāthirah fī al-Akhbār al-Mutawātirah, p. 277, ḥadīth no. 102
- Laqṭ al-Laʾālī al-Mutanāthirah fī al-Aḥādīth al-Mutawātirah, p. 205, ḥadīth no. 61
② Ḥadīth: أنا مدينة العلم وعلي بابها
- This narration is severely weak (sakhīf al-sanad) and even rejected (mardūd).
Detailed Analysis and References:
- al-Mustadrak by al-Ḥākim, vol. 3, p. 127, ḥadīth no. 4637
- Al-Ḥākim’s opinion: “This ḥadīth has a ṣaḥīḥ isnād, and they (al-Bukhārī and Muslim) did not record it, and Abū al-Ṣalt is trustworthy and reliable…”
- Ḥāfiẓ al-Dhahabī’s rebuttal: “Rather, it is fabricated… ‘Abū al-Ṣalt’ — By Allah, he is neither trustworthy nor reliable.” (Talkhīṣ al-Mustadrak, 3/127)
Weakness in the Chain:
- al-Aʿmash – Mudallis; narration is with “ʿan,” indicating tadlīs.
- Abū Muʿāwiyah (Muḥammad ibn Khāzim al-Ḍarīr) – Mudallis; narration is with “ʿan.”
- ʿAbd al-Salām ibn Ṣāliḥ Abū al-Ṣalt – Declared weak and criticized by the majority of muḥaddithīn.
- Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥīm al-Harawī – Unknown or not well-documented.
Another Version:
In Sunan al-Tirmidhī (ḥadīth no. 3723), a narration states:
“أنا دار الحكمة وعلي بابها”
- Imām al-Tirmidhī’s ruling: “This ḥadīth is gharīb munkar.”
Chain defects in this version:
- Sharīk ibn ʿAbd Allāh al-Qāḍī – Mudallis; narration is with “ʿan.”
- Muḥammad ibn ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Fīrūz, Ibn al-Rūmī – Weak (layyin al-ḥadīth) narrator (Taqrīb al-Tahdhīb: 6169).
All other chains for this narration are also severely weak and rejected.
❖ Conclusion
- “من كنت مولاه فعلي مولاه” – Authentic and mutawātir.
- “أنا مدينة العلم وعلي بابها” – Severely weak and rejected.
ھٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
