Source: Fatāwā ‘Ilmiyyah (Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām), Vol. 2, p. 52
Will people be called by their mothers’ names on the Day of Judgement? Please provide a researched clarification.
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh. Ammā ba‘d:
Narration in al-Mu‘jam al-Kabīr (al-Ṭabarānī):
«إن الله تعالی یدعوا الناس یوم القیامة بأمهاتهم ستراً منه علی عباده»
“Indeed, on the Day of Judgement, Allāh will call the people by their mothers’ names, as a means of covering their faults.”
(al-La’ālī al-Maṣnū‘ah by al-Suyūṭī, 2/449, from al-Ṭabarānī)
This report also appears in:
Some versions have “by their names” (bi-asmā’ihim) instead of “by their mothers’ names.” Both wordings come through the same narrator.
The narrator is Abū Ḥudhayfah Isḥāq ibn Bishr – matrūk (abandoned):
Scholars’ Statements:
The attempt of Muḥammad ibn ‘Umar al-Nīsābūrī to declare him trustworthy is rejected because he himself is majhūl al-ḥāl (unknown). Ḥāfiẓ al-Dhahabī also dismisses this as invalid (Mīzān al-I‘tidāl, 1/185).
Al-Suyūṭī also cites another report from Ibn ‘Adī:
«یدعی الناس یوم القیامة بأمهاتهم ستراً من الله علیهم»
“People will be called on the Day of Judgement by their mothers’ names so that Allāh covers them.”
(al-La’ālī al-Maṣnū‘ah, 2/449; al-Kāmil by Ibn ‘Adī, 1/336)
This narration contains Isḥāq ibn Ibrāhīm al-Ṭabarī – munkar al-ḥadīth:
Thus, this narration is fabricated.
In Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, the Prophet ﷺ said:
«إن الغادر یرفع له لواء یوم القیامة، یقال: هذه غدرة فلان بن فلان»
“On the Day of Judgement, a banner will be raised for the treacherous person, and it will be said: ‘This is the treachery of so-and-so, son of so-and-so.’”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Adab, Bāb Mā Yud‘ā al-Nās bi-Ābā’ihim, ḥadīth 6177)
This authentic ḥadīth clearly shows that people will be called by their fathers’ names on the Day of Judgement.
All narrations about calling by mothers’ names are weak or fabricated.
According to the authentic report in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, people will be called by their fathers’ names.
Therefore: The established and correct way on the Day of Judgement will be calling people with their father’s name.
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
❖ The Question
Will people be called by their mothers’ names on the Day of Judgement? Please provide a researched clarification.
Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh. Ammā ba‘d:
1. Reports Mentioning Calling by Mothers’ Names
Narration in al-Mu‘jam al-Kabīr (al-Ṭabarānī):
«إن الله تعالی یدعوا الناس یوم القیامة بأمهاتهم ستراً منه علی عباده»
“Indeed, on the Day of Judgement, Allāh will call the people by their mothers’ names, as a means of covering their faults.”
(al-La’ālī al-Maṣnū‘ah by al-Suyūṭī, 2/449, from al-Ṭabarānī)
This report also appears in:
- al-Mu‘jam al-Kabīr (11/122, ḥadīth 11242)
- Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr (8/43; another edition 4/331)
- Majma‘ al-Zawā’id (10/539)
Some versions have “by their names” (bi-asmā’ihim) instead of “by their mothers’ names.” Both wordings come through the same narrator.
2. Status of the Narrator
The narrator is Abū Ḥudhayfah Isḥāq ibn Bishr – matrūk (abandoned):
- Majma‘ al-Zawā’id (10/359)
- Mīzān al-I‘tidāl (1/184–186)
- Lisān al-Mīzān (1/354–355)
Scholars’ Statements:
- Imām al-Dāraqutnī: “A liar, abandoned.” (al-Ḍu‘afā’ wa-al-Matrūkīn, p. 92)
- Ibn Ḥibbān: “He used to fabricate ḥadīth upon trustworthy narrators.” (al-Majrūḥīn, 1/135)
The attempt of Muḥammad ibn ‘Umar al-Nīsābūrī to declare him trustworthy is rejected because he himself is majhūl al-ḥāl (unknown). Ḥāfiẓ al-Dhahabī also dismisses this as invalid (Mīzān al-I‘tidāl, 1/185).
3. Another Weak Report (Ibn ‘Adī)
Al-Suyūṭī also cites another report from Ibn ‘Adī:
«یدعی الناس یوم القیامة بأمهاتهم ستراً من الله علیهم»
“People will be called on the Day of Judgement by their mothers’ names so that Allāh covers them.”
(al-La’ālī al-Maṣnū‘ah, 2/449; al-Kāmil by Ibn ‘Adī, 1/336)
This narration contains Isḥāq ibn Ibrāhīm al-Ṭabarī – munkar al-ḥadīth:
- Ibn Ḥibbān: “Extremely munkar al-ḥadīth; narrates fabricated reports; not permissible to write his ḥadīth except in amazement.” (al-Majrūḥīn, 1/138)
- al-Ḥākim: “He narrated fabricated reports from Mālik, Ibn ‘Uyaynah, al-Fuḍayl ibn ‘Iyāḍ, and ‘Abd Allāh ibn al-Walīd al-‘Adanī.” (al-Madkhal ilā al-Ṣaḥīḥ, p. 119)
Thus, this narration is fabricated.
4. The Authentic Report
In Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, the Prophet ﷺ said:
«إن الغادر یرفع له لواء یوم القیامة، یقال: هذه غدرة فلان بن فلان»
“On the Day of Judgement, a banner will be raised for the treacherous person, and it will be said: ‘This is the treachery of so-and-so, son of so-and-so.’”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Adab, Bāb Mā Yud‘ā al-Nās bi-Ābā’ihim, ḥadīth 6177)
This authentic ḥadīth clearly shows that people will be called by their fathers’ names on the Day of Judgement.
Conclusion
All narrations about calling by mothers’ names are weak or fabricated. According to the authentic report in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, people will be called by their fathers’ names.Therefore: The established and correct way on the Day of Judgement will be calling people with their father’s name.
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
