Is the Narration About Angels’ Presence in Arafat on the Day of Arafah Authentic?
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah – Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām, Vol. 2, p. 465
Is this narration authentic? – Detailed Research and Clarification
ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī رحمه الله, with his chain of narration, transmits the following:
"ʿAlī رضي الله عنه said: On the Day of ʿArafah (in ʿArafāt), Jibrīl, Mīkāʾīl, Isrāfīl, and Khidr (عليهم السلام) gather together."
(Ghuniyat al-Ṭālibīn, p. 406)
The chain of narration is as follows:
“Wa akhbaranā Nāhbah Allāh ibn al-Mubārak qāl: anbaʾanā al-Ḥasan ibn Aḥmad al-Azharī qāl: anbaʾanā Abū Ṭālib ibn Aḥmad ibn al-Bakrī qāl: anbaʾanā Ismāʿīl qāl: ḥaddathanā ʿAbbās al-Dūrī qāl: anbaʾanā ʿUbayd Allāh ibn Isḥāq al-ʿAṭṭār qāl: anbaʾanā Muḥammad ibn al-Mubashshir al-Qaysī ʿan ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Ḥasan ʿan abīhi ʿan jaddihi ʿan ʿAlī رضي الله عنه qāl: yajtaʿiʿūn.”
(Ghuniyat al-Ṭālibīn Arabic 2/40; Urdu Translation, p. 447)
① Hibatullāh ibn al-Mubārak
As clarified in the answer to a previous question, this narrator is discarded and a liar — therefore unreliable.
② al-Ḥasan ibn Aḥmad al-Azharī, Ismāʿīl, Abū Ṭālib ibn Ḥamdān al-Bakrī
The complete identification and research of these three narrators is lacking, rendering them unknown (majhūl). The presence of such narrators causes weakness in the chain.
③ ʿUbayd Allāh ibn Isḥāq al-ʿAṭṭār
According to the majority of ḥadīth scholars, this narrator is weak.
④ Muḥammad ibn al-Mubashshir or Muḥammad ibn Mayṣar
It is unclear whether this narrator is Muḥammad ibn al-Mubashshir or Muḥammad ibn Mayṣar. This uncertainty adds further weakness to the chain.
From the above analysis, it is clear that:
◈ The chain contains a liar (kadhdhāb), unknown (majhūl) narrators, and abandoned (matrūk) narrators.
◈ The chain is extremely weak, doubtful, and obscure (muẓlim).
◈ It is correct to classify this narration as fabricated (mawḍūʿ).
There is no authentic ḥadīth or statement from a Companion that definitively proves Khidr عليه السلام is alive today.
The stronger and correct position is that he has passed away.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah – Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām, Vol. 2, p. 465Question:
Is this narration authentic? – Detailed Research and Clarification
Text of the Narration:
ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī رحمه الله, with his chain of narration, transmits the following:
"ʿAlī رضي الله عنه said: On the Day of ʿArafah (in ʿArafāt), Jibrīl, Mīkāʾīl, Isrāfīl, and Khidr (عليهم السلام) gather together."
(Ghuniyat al-Ṭālibīn, p. 406)
Detailed Examination of the Chain:
The chain of narration is as follows:
“Wa akhbaranā Nāhbah Allāh ibn al-Mubārak qāl: anbaʾanā al-Ḥasan ibn Aḥmad al-Azharī qāl: anbaʾanā Abū Ṭālib ibn Aḥmad ibn al-Bakrī qāl: anbaʾanā Ismāʿīl qāl: ḥaddathanā ʿAbbās al-Dūrī qāl: anbaʾanā ʿUbayd Allāh ibn Isḥāq al-ʿAṭṭār qāl: anbaʾanā Muḥammad ibn al-Mubashshir al-Qaysī ʿan ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Ḥasan ʿan abīhi ʿan jaddihi ʿan ʿAlī رضي الله عنه qāl: yajtaʿiʿūn.”
(Ghuniyat al-Ṭālibīn Arabic 2/40; Urdu Translation, p. 447)
Analysis of the Narrators:
① Hibatullāh ibn al-Mubārak
As clarified in the answer to a previous question, this narrator is discarded and a liar — therefore unreliable.
② al-Ḥasan ibn Aḥmad al-Azharī, Ismāʿīl, Abū Ṭālib ibn Ḥamdān al-Bakrī
The complete identification and research of these three narrators is lacking, rendering them unknown (majhūl). The presence of such narrators causes weakness in the chain.
③ ʿUbayd Allāh ibn Isḥāq al-ʿAṭṭār
According to the majority of ḥadīth scholars, this narrator is weak.
- Imām al-Bukhārī said:
"ʿIndahu manākīr" — He narrates objectionable reports.
(Kitāb al-Ḍuʿafāʾ, p. 223)
And also:
"Munkar al-ḥadīth" — He used to narrate fabricated/objectionable ḥadīth.
(al-Tārīkh al-Ṣaghīr, 2/305) - Imām al-Nasāʾī said:
"Matrūk al-ḥadīth" — His ḥadīth are abandoned.
(Kitāb al-Ḍuʿafāʾ wa al-Matrūkīn, p. 402) - Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar, after quoting the narration, wrote:
"Wa ʿUbayd ibn Isḥāq matrūk al-ḥadīth"
(al-Iṣābah, 1/439)
He is also mentioned in al-Laʾālī al-Maṣnūʿah, 1/168.
④ Muḥammad ibn al-Mubashshir or Muḥammad ibn Mayṣar
It is unclear whether this narrator is Muḥammad ibn al-Mubashshir or Muḥammad ibn Mayṣar. This uncertainty adds further weakness to the chain.
Overall Conclusion:
From the above analysis, it is clear that:
◈ The chain contains a liar (kadhdhāb), unknown (majhūl) narrators, and abandoned (matrūk) narrators.
◈ The chain is extremely weak, doubtful, and obscure (muẓlim).
◈ It is correct to classify this narration as fabricated (mawḍūʿ).
Important Note: The Issue of Khidr عليه السلام Being Alive
There is no authentic ḥadīth or statement from a Companion that definitively proves Khidr عليه السلام is alive today.
The stronger and correct position is that he has passed away.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
