Author: Hafiz Zubair Ali Zai
Question:
According to my knowledge, there is a Hadith in which the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once said in a gathering:
"Three things have been made beloved to me from your world: (1) Perfume, (2) Women (wives), and (3) The coolness of my eyes is placed in prayer." The companions were sitting with him, and Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "O Messenger of Allah! You have spoken the truth, and I like three things from this world: (1) Looking at the face of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), (2) Spending my wealth for the Messenger of Allah, (3) And my daughter becoming the wife of the Messenger of Allah." Then Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "O Abu Bakr! You have spoken the truth, and I like three things from this world: (1) Enjoining good, (2) Forbidding evil, and (3) Wearing old (worn-out) clothes." Then Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "O Umar! You have spoken the truth, and I like three things from this world:
(1) Feeding the hungry, (2) Clothing the naked, and (3) Reciting the Qur'an." Then Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "O Uthman! You have spoken the truth, and I like three things from this world: (1) Serving guests, (2) Fasting in the summer, and (3) Using the sword in the battlefield." The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions were in this state when Jibreel (peace be upon him) came and said, "When Allah heard your conversation, He sent me and ordered you to ask me what I would like if I were among the people of the world?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked, "What would you like from this world?" Jibreel (peace be upon him) replied, "(1) Guiding those who are lost, (2) Comforting the worshipers who are poor, and (3) Helping the needy with children." Jibreel (peace be upon him) also said, "Allah the Almighty loves three characteristics in His servants:
(1) Spending according to one's capacity in the way of Allah, (2) Crying out of remorse, and (3) Patience during hunger." (Reference: Manbahat by Ibn Hajar) Kindly provide a complete investigation and verification of this Hadith and publish it in the Al-Hadith magazine as well. May Allah reward you. (Qari Azeem Hasalapuri, Gujranwala)
Answer:
To my knowledge, this narration is not present with a chain of transmission and reference in any Hadith book. The book attributed to Hafiz Ibn Hajar (al-Asqalani?) titled Manbahat mentions this narration without any reference or chain of transmission [p. 21, 22, 1282 AH edition].
➊ The book Manbahat has not been proven to be authored by Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani. Those who have documented Hafiz Ibn Hajar's biographies and listed his books, such as Sakhawi (Al-Daw' al-Lami'), Shawkani (Al-Badr al-Tali'), Ismail Pasha al-Baghdadi (Hadiyat al-Arifin), and Zarkali (Al-Alam), have not attributed this book to Hafiz Ibn Hajar.
➋ Renowned Arab researcher Sheikh Abu Ubaidah Masha'al bin Hassan Al-Salman has considered this book falsely and slanderously attributed to Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani.See: [Books Warned Against by Scholars Vol. 2, p. 326]
➌ Sheikh Jassim Al-Dosari and Sheikh Abdulrahman Fakhoori have also declared the attribution of this book to Hafiz Ibn Hajar to be false.[ibid p. 327]
➍ The beginning of Manbahat states its name as Manbahat... 'Ala al-Isti'dad li-Yawm al-Ma'ad [p. 4] and mentions that it contains statements from two to ten [ibid p. 4]. Haji Khalifa Katib Chalabi Hanafi in his famous book Kashf al-Zunun writes:Manbahat 'Ala al-Isti'dad li-Yawm al-Mi'ad lil-Nasih wal-Wadad, an abridgment by Zain al-Qudat Ahmad bin Muhammad al-Haji al-Hajari who died... It includes Hadiths and advice from one to ten, starting with "Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds, etc." He said: "These are reminders for the preparation for the Day of Return."[Kashf al-Zunun 'an Asami al-Kutub wal-Funun Vol. 2, p. 1848]This lengthy statement concludes that the book was written by Ahmad bin Muhammad al-Haji or al-Hajari, who is unknown, and his biography is not found in any book.
➎ Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani wrote about a Sufi named Ibrahim bin Muhammad bin al-Mu'ayyad bin Hamwaya al-Juwayni (d. 722 AH) that Hafiz Dhahabi said:"He was a nighttime wood gatherer (Hatif Lail), he compiled Hadiths with chains of two, three, and four from false and fabricated narrations."[Al-Durar al-Kaminah fi A'yan al-Mi'ah al-Thaminah Vol. 1, p. 68, no. 181]It seems that a person named Ibn Haji or Ibn Hajari, who is unknown, abbreviated the book from Ibn Hamwaya al-Juwayni al-Sufi (d. 722 AH) and the book Manbahat was mistakenly attributed to Hafiz Ibn Hajar due to the errors of publishers or scribes.
➏ Hafiz Ibn Hajar explicitly stated that the narration with the addition of "three things" is without a chain of transmission.See: [Al-Talkhis al-Habir Vol. 3, p. 116, no. 1435]Therefore, he is not responsible for this narration or the mentioned book. If anyone proves with evidence that this book was indeed written by Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, even then this narration is false and fabricated as it has no known chain of transmission or reference. Any narration without a chain or reference is considered fabricated, false, and rejected unless a correct chain or reference is provided.
Ismail bin Muhammad al-Ajluni al-Jarrahi (d. 1162 AH) copied this from the book Al-Mawahib and wrote:"Al-Tabari said: Al-Jundi narrated it, and the responsibility lies on him."Al-Tabari said: Al-Jundi narrated it, and the responsibility lies on him.[Kashf al-Khafa' wa Muzil al-Albas Vol. 1, p. 340, no. 1089]This narration mentioned by Ajluni is without a chain and reference, mentioned humorously from Al-Mawahib al-Laduniyah bil-Minah al-Muhammadiyah by Ahmad bin Muhammad al-Qastalani (d. 923 AH) in the same manner [Vol. 2, p. 180, 181]. There were many people named Al-Jundi, such as Mufaddal bin Muhammad bin Ibrahim al-Jundi (d. 310 AH). Allah knows who is meant by this Al-Jundi. Even if a specific Al-Jundi is identified, the chain from him to the Prophet (peace be upon him) is unknown.
Shabr Amilsi (d. 1087 AH) and Khafaji and other scholars mentioned additional narrations without chain and reference, which are entirely fabricated and false.
Significant Warning:
Haji Khalifa Hanafi copied from Jalaluddin Suyuti without any chain and reference, that Qastalani stole from his books. [Kashf al-Zunun Vol. 2, p. 1897]Clearly, this statement without chain and reference is rejected and false, but those spreading narrations without chain and reference do not consider the author of Al-Mawahib, Qastalani, a thief due to this story!
Summary of the Investigation:
This narration is baseless, false, and fabricated, spread among ignorant and common Muslims through an organized or unorganized plan. Lying about the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is strictly prohibited. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:"Whoever attributes to me something that I did not say should make his place in the (Hell) Fire." [Sahih Bukhari: 109]
Despite this saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him), many people continuously strive to create false narrations or spread already existing false and weak narrations among Muslims. Are the authentic Hadiths and narrations not sufficient for us?
Note:
Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:"Three things have been made beloved to me from this world: Women (wives), perfume, and the coolness of my eyes is placed in prayer."[Sunan al-Nasa'i Vol. 7, p. 61, no. 3391, its chain is Hasan (good), Musnad Ahmad Vol. 3, p. 285, its chain is Hasan, authenticated by Hafiz Ibn Hajar in Al-Talkhis al-Habir Vol. 3, p. 116, no. 1435, and included by Al-Diya' in Al-Mukhtara Vol. 5, p. 116, no. 1736]
In another narration:"Women (wives) and perfume have been made beloved to me, and the coolness of my eyes is placed in prayer."[Sunan al-Nasa'i Vol. 7, p. 62, no. 3392, its chain is Hasan, authenticated by Al-Hakim according to the condition of Muslim Vol. 2, p. 160, agreed by Al-Dhahabi]
This authentic Hadith has no connection with the fabricated narration from Manbahat and prayer is not a worldly matter.
(11 January 2007)
Question:
According to my knowledge, there is a Hadith in which the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once said in a gathering:
"Three things have been made beloved to me from your world: (1) Perfume, (2) Women (wives), and (3) The coolness of my eyes is placed in prayer." The companions were sitting with him, and Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "O Messenger of Allah! You have spoken the truth, and I like three things from this world: (1) Looking at the face of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), (2) Spending my wealth for the Messenger of Allah, (3) And my daughter becoming the wife of the Messenger of Allah." Then Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "O Abu Bakr! You have spoken the truth, and I like three things from this world: (1) Enjoining good, (2) Forbidding evil, and (3) Wearing old (worn-out) clothes." Then Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "O Umar! You have spoken the truth, and I like three things from this world:
(1) Feeding the hungry, (2) Clothing the naked, and (3) Reciting the Qur'an." Then Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "O Uthman! You have spoken the truth, and I like three things from this world: (1) Serving guests, (2) Fasting in the summer, and (3) Using the sword in the battlefield." The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions were in this state when Jibreel (peace be upon him) came and said, "When Allah heard your conversation, He sent me and ordered you to ask me what I would like if I were among the people of the world?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked, "What would you like from this world?" Jibreel (peace be upon him) replied, "(1) Guiding those who are lost, (2) Comforting the worshipers who are poor, and (3) Helping the needy with children." Jibreel (peace be upon him) also said, "Allah the Almighty loves three characteristics in His servants:
(1) Spending according to one's capacity in the way of Allah, (2) Crying out of remorse, and (3) Patience during hunger." (Reference: Manbahat by Ibn Hajar) Kindly provide a complete investigation and verification of this Hadith and publish it in the Al-Hadith magazine as well. May Allah reward you. (Qari Azeem Hasalapuri, Gujranwala)
Answer:
To my knowledge, this narration is not present with a chain of transmission and reference in any Hadith book. The book attributed to Hafiz Ibn Hajar (al-Asqalani?) titled Manbahat mentions this narration without any reference or chain of transmission [p. 21, 22, 1282 AH edition].
➊ The book Manbahat has not been proven to be authored by Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani. Those who have documented Hafiz Ibn Hajar's biographies and listed his books, such as Sakhawi (Al-Daw' al-Lami'), Shawkani (Al-Badr al-Tali'), Ismail Pasha al-Baghdadi (Hadiyat al-Arifin), and Zarkali (Al-Alam), have not attributed this book to Hafiz Ibn Hajar.
➋ Renowned Arab researcher Sheikh Abu Ubaidah Masha'al bin Hassan Al-Salman has considered this book falsely and slanderously attributed to Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani.See: [Books Warned Against by Scholars Vol. 2, p. 326]
➌ Sheikh Jassim Al-Dosari and Sheikh Abdulrahman Fakhoori have also declared the attribution of this book to Hafiz Ibn Hajar to be false.[ibid p. 327]
➍ The beginning of Manbahat states its name as Manbahat... 'Ala al-Isti'dad li-Yawm al-Ma'ad [p. 4] and mentions that it contains statements from two to ten [ibid p. 4]. Haji Khalifa Katib Chalabi Hanafi in his famous book Kashf al-Zunun writes:Manbahat 'Ala al-Isti'dad li-Yawm al-Mi'ad lil-Nasih wal-Wadad, an abridgment by Zain al-Qudat Ahmad bin Muhammad al-Haji al-Hajari who died... It includes Hadiths and advice from one to ten, starting with "Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds, etc." He said: "These are reminders for the preparation for the Day of Return."[Kashf al-Zunun 'an Asami al-Kutub wal-Funun Vol. 2, p. 1848]This lengthy statement concludes that the book was written by Ahmad bin Muhammad al-Haji or al-Hajari, who is unknown, and his biography is not found in any book.
➎ Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani wrote about a Sufi named Ibrahim bin Muhammad bin al-Mu'ayyad bin Hamwaya al-Juwayni (d. 722 AH) that Hafiz Dhahabi said:"He was a nighttime wood gatherer (Hatif Lail), he compiled Hadiths with chains of two, three, and four from false and fabricated narrations."[Al-Durar al-Kaminah fi A'yan al-Mi'ah al-Thaminah Vol. 1, p. 68, no. 181]It seems that a person named Ibn Haji or Ibn Hajari, who is unknown, abbreviated the book from Ibn Hamwaya al-Juwayni al-Sufi (d. 722 AH) and the book Manbahat was mistakenly attributed to Hafiz Ibn Hajar due to the errors of publishers or scribes.
➏ Hafiz Ibn Hajar explicitly stated that the narration with the addition of "three things" is without a chain of transmission.See: [Al-Talkhis al-Habir Vol. 3, p. 116, no. 1435]Therefore, he is not responsible for this narration or the mentioned book. If anyone proves with evidence that this book was indeed written by Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, even then this narration is false and fabricated as it has no known chain of transmission or reference. Any narration without a chain or reference is considered fabricated, false, and rejected unless a correct chain or reference is provided.
Ismail bin Muhammad al-Ajluni al-Jarrahi (d. 1162 AH) copied this from the book Al-Mawahib and wrote:"Al-Tabari said: Al-Jundi narrated it, and the responsibility lies on him."Al-Tabari said: Al-Jundi narrated it, and the responsibility lies on him.[Kashf al-Khafa' wa Muzil al-Albas Vol. 1, p. 340, no. 1089]This narration mentioned by Ajluni is without a chain and reference, mentioned humorously from Al-Mawahib al-Laduniyah bil-Minah al-Muhammadiyah by Ahmad bin Muhammad al-Qastalani (d. 923 AH) in the same manner [Vol. 2, p. 180, 181]. There were many people named Al-Jundi, such as Mufaddal bin Muhammad bin Ibrahim al-Jundi (d. 310 AH). Allah knows who is meant by this Al-Jundi. Even if a specific Al-Jundi is identified, the chain from him to the Prophet (peace be upon him) is unknown.
Shabr Amilsi (d. 1087 AH) and Khafaji and other scholars mentioned additional narrations without chain and reference, which are entirely fabricated and false.
Significant Warning:
Haji Khalifa Hanafi copied from Jalaluddin Suyuti without any chain and reference, that Qastalani stole from his books. [Kashf al-Zunun Vol. 2, p. 1897]Clearly, this statement without chain and reference is rejected and false, but those spreading narrations without chain and reference do not consider the author of Al-Mawahib, Qastalani, a thief due to this story!
Summary of the Investigation:
This narration is baseless, false, and fabricated, spread among ignorant and common Muslims through an organized or unorganized plan. Lying about the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is strictly prohibited. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:"Whoever attributes to me something that I did not say should make his place in the (Hell) Fire." [Sahih Bukhari: 109]
Despite this saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him), many people continuously strive to create false narrations or spread already existing false and weak narrations among Muslims. Are the authentic Hadiths and narrations not sufficient for us?
Note:
Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:"Three things have been made beloved to me from this world: Women (wives), perfume, and the coolness of my eyes is placed in prayer."[Sunan al-Nasa'i Vol. 7, p. 61, no. 3391, its chain is Hasan (good), Musnad Ahmad Vol. 3, p. 285, its chain is Hasan, authenticated by Hafiz Ibn Hajar in Al-Talkhis al-Habir Vol. 3, p. 116, no. 1435, and included by Al-Diya' in Al-Mukhtara Vol. 5, p. 116, no. 1736]
In another narration:"Women (wives) and perfume have been made beloved to me, and the coolness of my eyes is placed in prayer."[Sunan al-Nasa'i Vol. 7, p. 62, no. 3392, its chain is Hasan, authenticated by Al-Hakim according to the condition of Muslim Vol. 2, p. 160, agreed by Al-Dhahabi]
This authentic Hadith has no connection with the fabricated narration from Manbahat and prayer is not a worldly matter.
(11 January 2007)
