Source: Fatawa Ilmiya, Vol. 1, Usul, Hadith Authentication and Investigation – Page 614
This article presents a detailed scholarly investigation into the Hadith concerning supplication (du‘a) during praise, analyzing its chain of narration (isnad), the reliability of its narrators, and its authenticity according to Hadith principles.
In Sahih al-Adab al-Mufrad by Al-Bukhari, a narration is mentioned:
"حدثنا مخلد بن مالك قال حدثنا حجاج بن محمد قال أخبرنا المبارك عن بكر بن عبد الله المزني عَنْ عَدِيِّ بْنِ أَرْطَأَةَ قَالَ: (كَانَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صَلى الله عَلَيهِ وسَلم إِذَا زُكِّيَ قَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ لاَ تُؤَاخِذْنِي بِمَا يَقُولُونَ، وَاغْفِرْ لِي مَا لا يَعْلَمُونَ”
Translation:
Mukhallad ibn Malik narrated to us, saying: Hajjaj ibn Muhammad narrated to us, who heard from Al-Mubarak from Bakr ibn Abdullah Al-Muzani, who narrated from ‘Adi ibn Artah, that:
"When a companion of the Prophet (peace be upon him) was praised, he would supplicate: 'O Allah! Do not hold me accountable for what they say, and forgive me for what they do not know.'”
(Al-Adab al-Mufrad, Chapter: "What a person should say when praised," Hadith No. 761)
Sheikh Nasiruddin Al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) authenticated this narration in Sahih al-Adab al-Mufrad as sahih al-isnad.
Furthermore, Saeed bin Ali Al-Qahtani, following Sheikh Al-Albani, referenced it in Hisn al-Muslim (Dar-us-Salam edition: p. 204; some editions p. 158) as evidence.
Is this Hadith authentic according to Hadith principles?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah. Upon careful investigation, this Hadith is considered weak (da‘if al-isnad) due to an interruption in its chain of narration (munqati‘ sanad).
This shows that Abdullah ibn Al-Mubarak could not have met Bakr ibn Abdullah, making the chain disconnected.
It is possible that "ibn Al-Mubarak" mentioned in Al-Adab al-Mufrad is a copyist error, and the intended narrator was Al-Mubarak ibn Fudala, who did narrate from Bakr ibn Abdullah Al-Muzani.
This is supported by Tahdhib al-Kamal (Vol. 3, pp. 140–141; Vol. 17, p. 418).
Al-Mubarak ibn Fudala is considered a mudallis (a narrator who may obscure the chain of narration).
Since he narrated using “‘an” while being a mudallis, the Hadith is therefore weak and rejected (da‘if wa mardud).
Another version is mentioned in Shu‘ab al-Iman by Al-Bayhaqi (Vol. 4, p. 228, Hadith 2876):
"Baqiyyah narrated from Muhammad ibn Ziyad from some of the Salaf."
However, as the Salaf are unnamed, this narration is also considered weak (mardud).
References:
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
Introduction
This article presents a detailed scholarly investigation into the Hadith concerning supplication (du‘a) during praise, analyzing its chain of narration (isnad), the reliability of its narrators, and its authenticity according to Hadith principles.
Original Text of the Hadith and Reference
In Sahih al-Adab al-Mufrad by Al-Bukhari, a narration is mentioned:
"حدثنا مخلد بن مالك قال حدثنا حجاج بن محمد قال أخبرنا المبارك عن بكر بن عبد الله المزني عَنْ عَدِيِّ بْنِ أَرْطَأَةَ قَالَ: (كَانَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صَلى الله عَلَيهِ وسَلم إِذَا زُكِّيَ قَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ لاَ تُؤَاخِذْنِي بِمَا يَقُولُونَ، وَاغْفِرْ لِي مَا لا يَعْلَمُونَ”
Translation:
Mukhallad ibn Malik narrated to us, saying: Hajjaj ibn Muhammad narrated to us, who heard from Al-Mubarak from Bakr ibn Abdullah Al-Muzani, who narrated from ‘Adi ibn Artah, that:
"When a companion of the Prophet (peace be upon him) was praised, he would supplicate: 'O Allah! Do not hold me accountable for what they say, and forgive me for what they do not know.'”
(Al-Adab al-Mufrad, Chapter: "What a person should say when praised," Hadith No. 761)
Verification by Sheikh Al-Albani
Sheikh Nasiruddin Al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) authenticated this narration in Sahih al-Adab al-Mufrad as sahih al-isnad.
Furthermore, Saeed bin Ali Al-Qahtani, following Sheikh Al-Albani, referenced it in Hisn al-Muslim (Dar-us-Salam edition: p. 204; some editions p. 158) as evidence.
Scholarly Question
Is this Hadith authentic according to Hadith principles?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah. Upon careful investigation, this Hadith is considered weak (da‘if al-isnad) due to an interruption in its chain of narration (munqati‘ sanad).
Chronological Analysis of Narrators
- Bakr ibn Abdullah Al-Muzani passed away in 106 or 108 AH.
(Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, Vol. 1, p. 425) - Abdullah ibn Al-Mubarak was born in 118 AH.
(Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, Vol. 5, p. 337)
This shows that Abdullah ibn Al-Mubarak could not have met Bakr ibn Abdullah, making the chain disconnected.
Possible Correction in the Chain
It is possible that "ibn Al-Mubarak" mentioned in Al-Adab al-Mufrad is a copyist error, and the intended narrator was Al-Mubarak ibn Fudala, who did narrate from Bakr ibn Abdullah Al-Muzani.
This is supported by Tahdhib al-Kamal (Vol. 3, pp. 140–141; Vol. 17, p. 418).
Status of Al-Mubarak ibn Fudala
Al-Mubarak ibn Fudala is considered a mudallis (a narrator who may obscure the chain of narration).
- (Tabaqat al-Mudallisīn, Ibn Hajar, Vol. 3, p. 93; Tahdhib al-Kamal, Vol. 17, p. 321)
Since he narrated using “‘an” while being a mudallis, the Hadith is therefore weak and rejected (da‘if wa mardud).
Confirmation from Other Sources
Another version is mentioned in Shu‘ab al-Iman by Al-Bayhaqi (Vol. 4, p. 228, Hadith 2876):
"Baqiyyah narrated from Muhammad ibn Ziyad from some of the Salaf."
However, as the Salaf are unnamed, this narration is also considered weak (mardud).
Conclusion
- The narration about supplication during praise is weak due to a disconnected chain and the presence of mudallis narrators.
- Therefore, it cannot be used as a definitive evidence in matters of practice.
References:
- Al-Adab al-Mufrad, Hadith 761
- Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, Vol. 1 & 5
- Tabaqat al-Mudallisīn, Ibn Hajar, Vol. 3
- Tahdhib al-Kamal, Vol. 3 & 17
- Shu‘ab al-Iman, Al-Bayhaqi, Vol. 4, Hadith 2876
- Hisn al-Muslim, Saeed bin Ali Al-Qahtani
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
