❖ The Incident of Thaʿlabah bin Ḥāṭib:
A Historical and Isnād-Based Analysis
Extracted from: Fatāwā Shaykh al-Ḥadīth Mubārakpūrī, Vol. 1, Page 117
❖ The Question
What is the chain of narration and scholarly assessment of the well-known incident of Thaʿlabah bin Ḥāṭib — the man who made a vow to Allah to give charity if blessed with wealth but later reneged?
❖ Context from the Qur’an
The incident is often cited under the verse:
﴿وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ عَاهَدَ اللَّهَ لَئِنْ آتَانَا مِن فَضْلِهِ لَنَصَّدَّقَنَّ وَلَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ﴾
(Surah al-Tawbah: 75)
“Among them are those who made a covenant with Allah: If He gives us of His bounty, we will surely give charity and be among the righteous.”
❖ Sources of the Narrative
This narration has been reported by:
✔ Ibn Jarīr al-Ṭabarī
✔ Ibn Abī Ḥātim
✔ Ibn al-Mundhir
✔ Abū Shaykh al-ʿAskarī (al-Amthāl)
✔ Ṭabarānī (al-Kabīr)
✔ Ibn Mandah
✔ Abū Nuʿaym al-Aṣfahānī
✔ Ibn ʿAsākir
✔ al-Bayhaqī
✔ al-Wāḥidī (Asbāb al-Nuzūl, p. 145)
✔ al-Shawkānī (Fatḥ al-Qadīr, 3/385–386)
❖ Summary of the Incident (as Narrated)
According to these narrations, Thaʿlabah bin Ḥāṭib vowed that if Allah enriched him, he would become generous and pious. When his wealth increased, he became stingy and neglected his religious duties, refusing to pay zakāt. Eventually, he faced rebuke, and this verse was revealed concerning him.
❖ Chain of Narration (Isnād) and Grading
This narration is primarily reported through:
① Maʿān bin Rifāʿah al-Salamī
② ʿAlī bin Yazīd al-Alahānī
③ al-Qāsim bin ʿAbd al-Raḥmān
④ Abū Umāmah al-Bāhilī رضي الله عنه
Grading of the Narrators:
- ʿAlī bin Yazīd al-Alahānī:
– Weak and even matrūk (abandoned) by majority of the critics of Hadith.
– Some accused him of fabricating Hadith. - Maʿān bin Rifāʿah:
– Described as "layyin al-ḥadīth" (soft in narration), indicating weakness.
al-Haythamī wrote in Majmaʿ al-Zawāʾid (7/32):
“It was narrated by Ṭabarānī, and in the chain is ʿAlī bin Yazīd al-Alahānī, who is matrūk.”
al-Dhahabī, however, in Mīzān al-Iʿtidāl (vol. 3, no. 5566, p. 161), stated:
“He is in himself a righteous person (ṣāliḥ),” though he acknowledged the majority's criticism.
❖ Scholarly Remarks on Authenticity
✔ Hafiz Ibn Kathīr and Imām al-Shawkānī both mentioned the narration without affirming it strongly, indicating caution.
✔ They cited only partial chains, knowing the presence of ʿAlī bin Yazīd is sufficient to classify the narration as weak.
❖ Should the Incident Be Rejected Entirely?
No, because:
① The narration relates to asbāb al-nuzūl (context of revelation), not a Sharʿi ruling.
② It does not oppose the Qur’an, any sound Hadith, or fundamental Islamic principles.
③ It is cited only to specify an individual referred to in the verse — not to derive new legislation.
④ Even if weak, such narratives are often mentioned in tafsīr literature when the content is non-controversial.
❖ Conclusion
◈ The narration about Thaʿlabah bin Ḥāṭib is weak in isnād, due to ʿAlī bin Yazīd al-Alahānī.
◈ However, since the content does not contradict any established principle and is used only to explain a verse, its inclusion in tafsir is acceptable with caution.
◈ Scholars like Ibn Kathīr and al-Shawkānī included it in this spirit — without declaring it authentic, but also without dismissing it outright.
✦ Final Ruling:
There is no harm in mentioning this incident under the verse of Surah al-Tawbah (9:75) for explanatory purposes — as long as it is noted that its chain is weak and not relied upon for legal rulings.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي، وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
