Narration: "I was a hidden treasure, unknown."
Written by:
Maulana Abu al-Hasan Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani
Question:
Some Sufis mention this Hadith: Allah Almighty said,
("I was a hidden treasure, unknown. I desired to be known, so I created creation. I made Myself known to them, and they recognized Me."). Is this narration authentic?
Answer:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:"Whoever attributes to me something that I did not say, let him prepare his seat in the Hellfire."
[Bukhari, Kitab al-Ilm: Bab Ithm Man Kadhiba Ala al-Nabi (107)]
Certain individuals have committed a grave sin by fabricating narrations about the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). The fabricators come from various backgrounds and intentions, including some self-proclaimed Sufi figures. This narration appears to be a product of such fabrications by these Sufis.
Regarding this, Imam Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) stated:
"This is not from the words of the Prophet (ﷺ), nor is there any known authentic or weak chain of transmission for it."
[Majmu' al-Fatawa: 18/122, 376]
Imam Ibn Taymiyyah's statement is supported by Imam Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Abdullah Badr al-Din al-Zarkashi in [Al-Tadhkirah fi al-Ahadith al-Mushhira 136, Bab al-Zuhd, Hadith No. 20], and by Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani and others.
See:
[Al-Maqasid al-Hasanah by Al-Sakhawi (838) (327), Kashf al-Khafa wa Muzil al-Albas by Ismail al-Ajluni (2019) (132/2), Al-Asrar al-Marfu'ah fi al-Akhbar al-Mawdu'ah by Mulla Ali Qari (353), Ahadith al-Qassas (3), Asna al-Matalib (1110), Tamiz al-Tayyib min al-Khabith (4510), Al-Durar al-Muntashira 330, Tadhkirat al-Mawdu'at]
It is clear that this narration is fabricated and seems to have been concocted by the Sufis.
Mulla Ali Qari attempted to validate its meaning and interpreted the word ليعبدون in the verse from Surah Adh-Dhariyat [51:56]:
وما خلقت الجن والانس الا ليعبدون
as ليعرفون ("I have not created the jinn and humankind except to know Me"), attributing this interpretation to Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنهما).
[Al-Asrar al-Marfu'ah: 269, Hadith No. 303]
However, Mulla Ali Qari's statement is incorrect. The attribution of this interpretation to Abdullah ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنهما) requires a strong chain of transmission. Moreover, this narration contradicts the attributes of Allah that we learn from the Quran and Sunnah. How could Allah Almighty, the Lord of Honor and Glory, be an unknown treasure?
Fabricating such narrations only serves to darken one's record of deeds. May Allah protect us from such meaningless and frivolous statements. Ameen!
Written by:
Maulana Abu al-Hasan Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani
Question:
Some Sufis mention this Hadith: Allah Almighty said,
"كنت كنزا مخفيا لا اعرف فاحببت ان اعرف فخلقت خلقا فعرقته بي فعرفوني"
("I was a hidden treasure, unknown. I desired to be known, so I created creation. I made Myself known to them, and they recognized Me."). Is this narration authentic?
Answer:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:"Whoever attributes to me something that I did not say, let him prepare his seat in the Hellfire."
[Bukhari, Kitab al-Ilm: Bab Ithm Man Kadhiba Ala al-Nabi (107)]
Certain individuals have committed a grave sin by fabricating narrations about the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). The fabricators come from various backgrounds and intentions, including some self-proclaimed Sufi figures. This narration appears to be a product of such fabrications by these Sufis.
Regarding this, Imam Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) stated:
"This is not from the words of the Prophet (ﷺ), nor is there any known authentic or weak chain of transmission for it."
[Majmu' al-Fatawa: 18/122, 376]
Imam Ibn Taymiyyah's statement is supported by Imam Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Abdullah Badr al-Din al-Zarkashi in [Al-Tadhkirah fi al-Ahadith al-Mushhira 136, Bab al-Zuhd, Hadith No. 20], and by Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani and others.
See:
[Al-Maqasid al-Hasanah by Al-Sakhawi (838) (327), Kashf al-Khafa wa Muzil al-Albas by Ismail al-Ajluni (2019) (132/2), Al-Asrar al-Marfu'ah fi al-Akhbar al-Mawdu'ah by Mulla Ali Qari (353), Ahadith al-Qassas (3), Asna al-Matalib (1110), Tamiz al-Tayyib min al-Khabith (4510), Al-Durar al-Muntashira 330, Tadhkirat al-Mawdu'at]
It is clear that this narration is fabricated and seems to have been concocted by the Sufis.
Mulla Ali Qari attempted to validate its meaning and interpreted the word ليعبدون in the verse from Surah Adh-Dhariyat [51:56]:
وما خلقت الجن والانس الا ليعبدون
as ليعرفون ("I have not created the jinn and humankind except to know Me"), attributing this interpretation to Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنهما).
[Al-Asrar al-Marfu'ah: 269, Hadith No. 303]
However, Mulla Ali Qari's statement is incorrect. The attribution of this interpretation to Abdullah ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنهما) requires a strong chain of transmission. Moreover, this narration contradicts the attributes of Allah that we learn from the Quran and Sunnah. How could Allah Almighty, the Lord of Honor and Glory, be an unknown treasure?
Fabricating such narrations only serves to darken one's record of deeds. May Allah protect us from such meaningless and frivolous statements. Ameen!