Written by: Hafiz Zubair Ali Zai
Question:
Is there any authentic hadith that provides proof of the Kalimah Tayyibah "لا الٰه الا الله محمد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم"? Please answer with research. Jazakum Allah Khairan. (Habib Muhammad, Biyar, Dir)
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, the Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace be upon His trustworthy Messenger, and after:
Imam Abu Bakr Ahmad bin al-Husayn al-Bayhaqi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“Abu Abdullah al-Hafiz narrated to us: Abu al-Abbas Muhammad bin Yaqub narrated to us: Muhammad bin Ishaq narrated to us: Yahya bin Salih al-Wuhazi narrated to us: Ishaq bin Yahya al-Kalbi narrated to us: al-Zuhri narrated to me: Sa'id bin al-Musayyib narrated to me that Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he said:
‘Allah revealed in His Book and mentioned a people who were arrogant and said:
(Indeed, when it was said to them, “There is no deity except Allah,” they were arrogant.)
[As-Saffat: 35]
And Allah said: (When those who disbelieved had put into their hearts chauvinism - the chauvinism of the time of ignorance. But Allah sent down His tranquility upon His Messenger and upon the believers and imposed upon them the word of righteousness, and they were more deserving of it and worthy of it.)
[Al-Fath: 26]
And it is:
(There is no deity except Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah).
The polytheists were arrogant towards it on the day of Hudaybiyyah when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) made an agreement with them regarding the term.”
[Kitab al-Asma wa al-Sifat, p. 105, 106; second copy, p. 131; third printed copy, Anwar Muhammad, Allahabad, 1313 AH, p. 81, Chapter: What has been mentioned regarding the merit of the remaining word in the lineage of Ibrahim (peace be upon him)]
The chain of this narration is Hasan (good) by itself. Al-Hakim, Al-Asam, Muhammad bin Ishaq al-Saghani, al-Zuhri, and Sa'id bin al-Musayyib are all of the highest level of trustworthiness.
➊ Yahya bin Salih al-Wuhazi is a narrator of Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim and considered trustworthy by the majority of scholars.
Imam Abu Hatim al-Razi said:
“Truthful.”
Imam Yahya bin Ma'in said:
“Trustworthy.”[Al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil by Ibn Abi Hatim, 9/158, and its chain is authentic]
Imam Bukhari said:
“Yahya is trustworthy.”[Kitab al-Du'afa al-Saghir: 145, Indian print]
There are criticisms of Yahya bin Salih from the following scholars:
➊ Ahmad bin Hanbal
➋ Ishaq bin Mansur
➌ Aqili
➍ Abu Ahmad al-Hakim
Imam Ahmad’s criticism is based on an unknown person. See:
[Al-Du'afa by Aqili, 4/408]
This criticism opposes Imam Ahmad’s authentication.Abu Zur’ah al-Dimashqi said:
“Ahmad bin Hanbal said nothing but good about Yahya bin Salih.”
[Tarikh Dimashq by Ibn Asakir, 68/78, and its chain is authentic]
Ishaq bin Mansur’s criticism comes from Abdullah bin Ali.
[Al-Du'afa by Aqili, 4/409]
Abdullah bin Ali’s reliability and truthfulness are not proven, so this criticism is not valid.
Aqili’s criticism is not found in Al-Du'afa al-Kabir but is present in Tarikh Dimashq.
[68/79]
The narrator of this criticism, Yusuf bin Ahmad, is not reliable (unknown condition), so this criticism is also not valid.
The criticisms of Abu Ahmad al-Hakim (and conditionally Ahmad, Ishaq bin Mansur, and Aqili) are rejected when compared to the majority of scholars’ authentication. Hafiz Dhahabi said:
“He was trustworthy in himself, criticized for his opinion.”
[Ma'rifat al-Ruwat al-Mutakallam fihim bi ma la yuji'b al-Radd: 367]
Hafiz Ibn Hajar said:
“Khalid (bin Mukhallad) and Yahya bin Salih are both trustworthy.”
[Fath al-Bari, 9/524, under Hadith 5378, Book of Foods, Chapter: Eating from what is near you]
The researchers of Taqreeb al-Tahdhib wrote:“Rather, he is trustworthy.”
[Al-Tahdhib, 4/88]
Summary of Research:
Yahya bin Salih is trustworthy and his hadith are authentic.
➋ Ishaq bin Yahya bin Alqamah al-Kalbi al-Himsi al-Awsi is a narrator of (Shawahid) of Sahih Bukhari. See:[Sahih Bukhari: 7382, 7171, 7000, 6647, 3927, 3443, 3299, 1355, 682]
Hafiz Ibn Hibban mentioned him in Kitab al-Thiqat.
[2/49]
And he narrated from him in Sahih Ibn Hibban.
[Al-Ihsan: 6074]
Al-Daraqutni said:
“His hadith are acceptable, and Bukhari uses him in supportive narrations but does not rely on him in foundational narrations.”
[Sualat al-Hakim lil-Daraqutni: 280]
Note:
When Imam Bukhari narrates from a narrator in supportive narrations, it indicates that he considers the narrator trustworthy (unless a specific exception is proven). See:
[Shurut al-Aimma al-Sitta by Muhammad bin Tahir al-Maqdisi, p. 18; second copy, p. 14]
Abu Awana narrated from him in his Sahih Abu Awana (Mustakhraj 'ala Sahih Muslim). [2/293]
Hafiz Ibn Hajar said:
“Truthful, it is said: He killed his father.”
[Taqreeb al-Tahdhib: 391]
The story of him killing his father is mentioned in Tahdhib al-Kamal, printed by Mu’assasah al-Risalah [1/202], without any chain, narrated by Abu Awana al-Isfara’ini from Abu Bakr al-Jadami from Ibn Aun who said: It is said. This story is rejected for several reasons:
➊ The chain to Abu Awana is missing.
➋ Abu Bakr al-Jadami is unknown.
➌ The one who said "It is said" is unknown.
The author of Tahdhib al-Kamal mentioned without a chain that Muhammad bin Yahya al-Dhahli mentioned him in the second level and said:
“Unknown: I know of no narration from him except Yahya bin Salih al-Wuhazi, who brought me parts of his narrations from al-Zuhri. I found them comparable (to authentic narrations). I wrote down only a few of them.”
[1/202]
Hafiz Abu Bakr Muhammad bin Musa al-Hazimi (died 591 AH) said about the second level of the students of al-Zuhri that they are on the condition of Muslim. [Shurut al-Aimma al-Khamsah, p. 57]
It is known that this narrator is considered trustworthy and truthful by Muhammad bin Yahya al-Dhahli despite being unknown. Otherwise, this criticism is rejected against the consensus of the scholars.
Summary of Research:
Ishaq bin Yahya al-Kalbi is Hasan al-Hadith.
Benefit:
The same narration of لا الٰه الا الله محمد رسول الله has been narrated by Shu’aib bin Abi Hamzah from al-Zuhri from Sa'id bin al-Musayyib from Abu Hurairah with a Sahih chain.[Kitab al-Iman by Ibn Mandah, 1/359, Hadith 99; its chain is authentic to Shu’aib bin Abi Hamzah]
With this supporting narration, the narration of Ishaq bin Yahya is further strengthened. Alhamdulillah.
Second Proof:
There is consensus (Ijma') of the Muslims on
Hafiz Ibn Hazm writes:
“This is a true consensus, just as there is consensus on the saying لا الٰه الا الله محمد رسول الله.”
[Al-Muhalla, 10/423, Al-‘Ain, Issue: 3025]
Hafiz Ibn Hazm further writes:
“Similarly, there is consensus among all Muslims without any disagreement that dying people should be instructed to say لا الٰه الا الله محمد رسول الله.”
[Al-Fisal fi al-Milal wa al-Ahwa’ wa al-Nihal, 1/162, Refutation of those who claim that the prophets are not prophets today]
It is evident that the Kalimah of sincerity: لا الٰه الا الله محمد رسول الله is proven from authentic hadith and consensus. Alhamdulillah, and blessings and peace be upon His Prophet.
Note:
Mufti Muhammad Ismail Toru and Deobandi wrote under "Six Kalimahs":
“Kalimah Tayyibah: لا اله الا الله محمد رسول الله (Translation: There is no deity except Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah).”
[Bukhari, Muslim, 1/73][Mukhtasar Nisab, p. 24, 2005 edition, Dar al-Ifta’ Jamia Islamia, Sadr Kamran Market, Rawalpindi]
This complete Kalimah is not found in any hadith of Sahih Bukhari or Sahih Muslim in this manner. Scholars posing as Muftis should be cautious in their writings and completely avoid incorrect references. We are responsible only for delivering the message.
(16th February 2007)
Question:
Is there any authentic hadith that provides proof of the Kalimah Tayyibah "لا الٰه الا الله محمد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم"? Please answer with research. Jazakum Allah Khairan. (Habib Muhammad, Biyar, Dir)
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, the Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace be upon His trustworthy Messenger, and after:
Imam Abu Bakr Ahmad bin al-Husayn al-Bayhaqi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“Abu Abdullah al-Hafiz narrated to us: Abu al-Abbas Muhammad bin Yaqub narrated to us: Muhammad bin Ishaq narrated to us: Yahya bin Salih al-Wuhazi narrated to us: Ishaq bin Yahya al-Kalbi narrated to us: al-Zuhri narrated to me: Sa'id bin al-Musayyib narrated to me that Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he said:
‘Allah revealed in His Book and mentioned a people who were arrogant and said:
(Indeed, when it was said to them, “There is no deity except Allah,” they were arrogant.)
[As-Saffat: 35]
And Allah said: (When those who disbelieved had put into their hearts chauvinism - the chauvinism of the time of ignorance. But Allah sent down His tranquility upon His Messenger and upon the believers and imposed upon them the word of righteousness, and they were more deserving of it and worthy of it.)
[Al-Fath: 26]
And it is:
لا الٰه الا الله محمد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم
(There is no deity except Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah).
The polytheists were arrogant towards it on the day of Hudaybiyyah when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) made an agreement with them regarding the term.”
[Kitab al-Asma wa al-Sifat, p. 105, 106; second copy, p. 131; third printed copy, Anwar Muhammad, Allahabad, 1313 AH, p. 81, Chapter: What has been mentioned regarding the merit of the remaining word in the lineage of Ibrahim (peace be upon him)]
The chain of this narration is Hasan (good) by itself. Al-Hakim, Al-Asam, Muhammad bin Ishaq al-Saghani, al-Zuhri, and Sa'id bin al-Musayyib are all of the highest level of trustworthiness.
➊ Yahya bin Salih al-Wuhazi is a narrator of Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim and considered trustworthy by the majority of scholars.
Imam Abu Hatim al-Razi said:
“Truthful.”
Imam Yahya bin Ma'in said:
“Trustworthy.”[Al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil by Ibn Abi Hatim, 9/158, and its chain is authentic]
Imam Bukhari said:
“Yahya is trustworthy.”[Kitab al-Du'afa al-Saghir: 145, Indian print]
There are criticisms of Yahya bin Salih from the following scholars:
➊ Ahmad bin Hanbal
➋ Ishaq bin Mansur
➌ Aqili
➍ Abu Ahmad al-Hakim
Imam Ahmad’s criticism is based on an unknown person. See:
[Al-Du'afa by Aqili, 4/408]
This criticism opposes Imam Ahmad’s authentication.Abu Zur’ah al-Dimashqi said:
“Ahmad bin Hanbal said nothing but good about Yahya bin Salih.”
[Tarikh Dimashq by Ibn Asakir, 68/78, and its chain is authentic]
Ishaq bin Mansur’s criticism comes from Abdullah bin Ali.
[Al-Du'afa by Aqili, 4/409]
Abdullah bin Ali’s reliability and truthfulness are not proven, so this criticism is not valid.
Aqili’s criticism is not found in Al-Du'afa al-Kabir but is present in Tarikh Dimashq.
[68/79]
The narrator of this criticism, Yusuf bin Ahmad, is not reliable (unknown condition), so this criticism is also not valid.
The criticisms of Abu Ahmad al-Hakim (and conditionally Ahmad, Ishaq bin Mansur, and Aqili) are rejected when compared to the majority of scholars’ authentication. Hafiz Dhahabi said:
“He was trustworthy in himself, criticized for his opinion.”
[Ma'rifat al-Ruwat al-Mutakallam fihim bi ma la yuji'b al-Radd: 367]
Hafiz Ibn Hajar said:
“Khalid (bin Mukhallad) and Yahya bin Salih are both trustworthy.”
[Fath al-Bari, 9/524, under Hadith 5378, Book of Foods, Chapter: Eating from what is near you]
The researchers of Taqreeb al-Tahdhib wrote:“Rather, he is trustworthy.”
[Al-Tahdhib, 4/88]
Summary of Research:
Yahya bin Salih is trustworthy and his hadith are authentic.
➋ Ishaq bin Yahya bin Alqamah al-Kalbi al-Himsi al-Awsi is a narrator of (Shawahid) of Sahih Bukhari. See:[Sahih Bukhari: 7382, 7171, 7000, 6647, 3927, 3443, 3299, 1355, 682]
Hafiz Ibn Hibban mentioned him in Kitab al-Thiqat.
[2/49]
And he narrated from him in Sahih Ibn Hibban.
[Al-Ihsan: 6074]
Al-Daraqutni said:
“His hadith are acceptable, and Bukhari uses him in supportive narrations but does not rely on him in foundational narrations.”
[Sualat al-Hakim lil-Daraqutni: 280]
Note:
When Imam Bukhari narrates from a narrator in supportive narrations, it indicates that he considers the narrator trustworthy (unless a specific exception is proven). See:
[Shurut al-Aimma al-Sitta by Muhammad bin Tahir al-Maqdisi, p. 18; second copy, p. 14]
Abu Awana narrated from him in his Sahih Abu Awana (Mustakhraj 'ala Sahih Muslim). [2/293]
Hafiz Ibn Hajar said:
“Truthful, it is said: He killed his father.”
[Taqreeb al-Tahdhib: 391]
The story of him killing his father is mentioned in Tahdhib al-Kamal, printed by Mu’assasah al-Risalah [1/202], without any chain, narrated by Abu Awana al-Isfara’ini from Abu Bakr al-Jadami from Ibn Aun who said: It is said. This story is rejected for several reasons:
➊ The chain to Abu Awana is missing.
➋ Abu Bakr al-Jadami is unknown.
➌ The one who said "It is said" is unknown.
The author of Tahdhib al-Kamal mentioned without a chain that Muhammad bin Yahya al-Dhahli mentioned him in the second level and said:
“Unknown: I know of no narration from him except Yahya bin Salih al-Wuhazi, who brought me parts of his narrations from al-Zuhri. I found them comparable (to authentic narrations). I wrote down only a few of them.”
[1/202]
Hafiz Abu Bakr Muhammad bin Musa al-Hazimi (died 591 AH) said about the second level of the students of al-Zuhri that they are on the condition of Muslim. [Shurut al-Aimma al-Khamsah, p. 57]
It is known that this narrator is considered trustworthy and truthful by Muhammad bin Yahya al-Dhahli despite being unknown. Otherwise, this criticism is rejected against the consensus of the scholars.
Summary of Research:
Ishaq bin Yahya al-Kalbi is Hasan al-Hadith.
Benefit:
The same narration of لا الٰه الا الله محمد رسول الله has been narrated by Shu’aib bin Abi Hamzah from al-Zuhri from Sa'id bin al-Musayyib from Abu Hurairah with a Sahih chain.[Kitab al-Iman by Ibn Mandah, 1/359, Hadith 99; its chain is authentic to Shu’aib bin Abi Hamzah]
With this supporting narration, the narration of Ishaq bin Yahya is further strengthened. Alhamdulillah.
Second Proof:
There is consensus (Ijma') of the Muslims on
لا الٰه الا الله محمد رسول الله.
Hafiz Ibn Hazm writes:
“This is a true consensus, just as there is consensus on the saying لا الٰه الا الله محمد رسول الله.”
[Al-Muhalla, 10/423, Al-‘Ain, Issue: 3025]
Hafiz Ibn Hazm further writes:
“Similarly, there is consensus among all Muslims without any disagreement that dying people should be instructed to say لا الٰه الا الله محمد رسول الله.”
[Al-Fisal fi al-Milal wa al-Ahwa’ wa al-Nihal, 1/162, Refutation of those who claim that the prophets are not prophets today]
It is evident that the Kalimah of sincerity: لا الٰه الا الله محمد رسول الله is proven from authentic hadith and consensus. Alhamdulillah, and blessings and peace be upon His Prophet.
Note:
Mufti Muhammad Ismail Toru and Deobandi wrote under "Six Kalimahs":
“Kalimah Tayyibah: لا اله الا الله محمد رسول الله (Translation: There is no deity except Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah).”
[Bukhari, Muslim, 1/73][Mukhtasar Nisab, p. 24, 2005 edition, Dar al-Ifta’ Jamia Islamia, Sadr Kamran Market, Rawalpindi]
This complete Kalimah is not found in any hadith of Sahih Bukhari or Sahih Muslim in this manner. Scholars posing as Muftis should be cautious in their writings and completely avoid incorrect references. We are responsible only for delivering the message.
(16th February 2007)