Authored by: Hafiz Zubair Ali Zai (رحمه الله)
Question:
A friend messaged me a Hadith, the meaning of which is that Abdullah ibn Umar (رضي الله عنهما) said:
"I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: When one of you dies, do not keep him detained, but quickly carry him to his grave. After burial, at his head recite the beginning of Surah Al-Baqarah and at his feet its end."
(This is referenced as Hadith number 1225 in Mishkat, Volume 1.)
I would like to ask you: What do you say regarding this Hadith? Is it authentic or weak?
(Muhammad Yaqoob Mehlow, Tehsil Fateh Jang, District Attock)
Answer:
This narration is mentioned in our copy of Mishkat with reference to Shu’ab al-Iman by Imam al-Bayhaqi.
(Volume 1, Page 559, Hadith 1717)
The chain of transmission in Shu’ab al-Iman is as follows:
This narration is also found with the same chain in Al-Mu’jam al-Kabir by Tabarani (14/4, Hadith 13613) and in Al-Qira’ah ‘Inda al-Qubur by Al-Khallal (Hadith 2).
Analysis of the Chain:
There are two weak narrators in this chain:
➊ Yahya ibn Abdullah al-Babilti:
Additionally, early scholars like Abu Hatim al-Razi and Ibn 'Adi, among others, criticized him.
➋ Ayyub ibn Nuhayyik al-Halabi:
Although Ibn Hibban included him in Thiqat, the majority criticism outweighs this solitary mention.
Conclusion:
Based on this detailed analysis, the narration in question is severely weak and rejected.
Moreover, a related mauquf narration (a saying of a companion) is also weak due to the narrator Abdur Rahman ibn al-Ala ibn al-Lajjaj being of unknown reliability.
(Answer given on: August 11, 2012)
Question:
A friend messaged me a Hadith, the meaning of which is that Abdullah ibn Umar (رضي الله عنهما) said:
"I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: When one of you dies, do not keep him detained, but quickly carry him to his grave. After burial, at his head recite the beginning of Surah Al-Baqarah and at his feet its end."
(This is referenced as Hadith number 1225 in Mishkat, Volume 1.)
I would like to ask you: What do you say regarding this Hadith? Is it authentic or weak?
(Muhammad Yaqoob Mehlow, Tehsil Fateh Jang, District Attock)
Answer:
This narration is mentioned in our copy of Mishkat with reference to Shu’ab al-Iman by Imam al-Bayhaqi.
(Volume 1, Page 559, Hadith 1717)
The chain of transmission in Shu’ab al-Iman is as follows:
- Reported to us by Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Abdan, who said:
- Reported to us by Ahmad ibn Ubayd al-Saffar, who said:
- Narrated to us by Abu Shu'ayb al-Harrani, who said:
- Narrated to us by Yahya ibn Abdullah al-Babilti, who said:
- Narrated to us by Ayyub ibn Nuhayyik al-Halabi, the freed slave of the family of Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas, who said:
- I heard Ata ibn Abi Rabah say, I heard Abdullah ibn Umar say, I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) say...
This narration is also found with the same chain in Al-Mu’jam al-Kabir by Tabarani (14/4, Hadith 13613) and in Al-Qira’ah ‘Inda al-Qubur by Al-Khallal (Hadith 2).
Analysis of the Chain:
There are two weak narrators in this chain:
➊ Yahya ibn Abdullah al-Babilti:
- Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani stated: "Weak" (Taqrib al-Tahdhib, 7585).
- Al-Bayhaqi also declared him weak (Sunan al-Kubra, 4/295).
- Hafiz al-Dhahabi said: "Wahi" (very weak) (Al-Mughni fi al-Du'afa, 2/52, No. 7003).
- Al-Haythami also said: "He is weak" (Majma' al-Zawa'id, 3/33).
Additionally, early scholars like Abu Hatim al-Razi and Ibn 'Adi, among others, criticized him.
➋ Ayyub ibn Nuhayyik al-Halabi:
- Abu Hatim al-Razi said: "He is weak in Hadith."
- Abu Zur'ah al-Razi said: "His narrations are denounced (Munkar al-Hadith)."
(Kitab al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil, 2/259, No. 930) - Hafiz Ibn Hajar stated: "He is Munkar al-Hadith as per Abu Zur'ah."
(Fath al-Bari, 2/209 under Hadith 930) - Hafiz al-Dhahabi said: "He was abandoned (matruk)."
(Diwan al-Du'afa, No. 535) - Al-Haythami also said: "Among the narrators is Ayyub ibn Nuhayyik, who is abandoned and criticized by several scholars."_
(Majma' al-Zawa'id, 2/184)
Although Ibn Hibban included him in Thiqat, the majority criticism outweighs this solitary mention.
Conclusion:
Based on this detailed analysis, the narration in question is severely weak and rejected.
Moreover, a related mauquf narration (a saying of a companion) is also weak due to the narrator Abdur Rahman ibn al-Ala ibn al-Lajjaj being of unknown reliability.
(Answer given on: August 11, 2012)