This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri's book The Shariah Status of Blessings.
Nothing is established from the Prophet ﷺ regarding Abdal.
Hafiz Ibn al-Jawzi, may Allah have mercy on him (597 AH), says:
[ليس في هٰذه الأحاديث شيء صحيح]
None of these hadiths are authentic.
Reference: Al-Mawdu'at: 152/3
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him (728 AH), says:
[تكلم به بعض السلف، ويروى فيه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم حديث ضعيف]
Some of the Salaf have spoken about this. There is an unauthenticated hadith attributed to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ regarding this.
Reference: (Majmoo' al-Fatawa: 394/4)
He also says:
[الأشبه أنه ليس من كلام النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم]
The correct statement is that this is not the speech of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Reference: Majmoo' al-Fatawa: 441/11
He further says:
[كل حديث يروى عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في عدة الأولياء والأبدال والنقباء والنجباء والأوتاد والأقطاب، مثل أربعة أو سبعة أو اثني عشر أو أربعين أو سبعين أو ثلاثمائة وثلاثة عشر أو القطب الواحد، فليس في ذٰلك شيء صحيح عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، ولم ينطق السلف بشيء من هٰذه الألفاظ إلا بلفظ الأبدال]
Every narration that mentions from the Noble Prophet ﷺ the number of Awliya, Abdal, Nuqaba, Nujaba, Awtaad, and Aqtaab, for example four, seven, twelve, forty, seventy, three hundred, thirteen, or one Qutb, none of these is established from the Noble Prophet ﷺ, nor did the Salaf use such terms, except for Abdal.
Reference: Al-Furqan Bayna Awliya ar-Rahman wa Awliya ash-Shaytan, p. 101
Allama Ibn Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him (751 AH), says:
[أحاديث الأبدال والأقطاب والأغواث والنقباء والنجباء والأوتاد كلها باطلة علىٰ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم]
All the hadiths regarding Abdal, Aqtab, Aghwath, Nuqaba, Nujaba, and Awtaad have been fabricated and falsely attributed to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Reference: Al-Minar Al-Munif, p. 136
After this much clarification, a brief commentary on the narrated hadiths about Abdal is presented:
Hadith Number ①
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنهما that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
[خيار أمتي في كل قرن خمسمائة، والأبدال أربعون، فلا الخمسمائة ينقصون ولا الأربعون، كلما مات رجل أبدل الله عز وجل من الخمسمائة مكانه، وأدخل من الأربعين مكانهم]
In every era of my Ummah, there will be five hundred Khiyar (chosen people) and forty Abdal. Neither of these numbers will decrease. Whoever among them passes away, Allah will replace him from among the five hundred and include another person in the forty.
Reference: Hilyat al-Awliya by Abu Nu'aym: 8/1, Tarikh Ibn Asakir: 302/1
The narration is false.
① Abdullah bin Harun Suri's reliability is not established.
◈ Hafiz Dhahabi رحمه الله says:
[عن الأوزاعي، لا يعرف، والخبر كذب في أخلاق الأبدال]
He narrates from Awza'i and is an unknown narrator. The narration attributed to him regarding the characteristics of the Abdal is false.
Reference: Mizan al-I'tidal: 516/2
② Zahri is a mudallis, did not specify the hearing.
Regarding this hadith, Hafiz Ibn al-Jawzi رحمه الله says:
[موضوع، وفيه مجاهيل]
This is a fabricated narration. It contains many unknown narrators.
Reference: Al-Mawdu'at: 151/3
Hadith Number ②
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ubada bin As-Samit رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
[الأبدال في هٰذه الأمة ثلاثون مثل إبراهيم خليل الرحمٰن كلما مات رجل أبدل الله مكانه رجلا]
There will be thirty Abdal in this Ummah, who will be like Ibrahim عليه السلام. When one of them dies, Allah will replace him with another.
Reference: Musnad Imam Ahmad: 322/5, Akhbar Asbahan by Abu Nu'aym: 180/1
The chain is weak.
① Hasan bin Zikwan has narrated rejected reports from Abd al-Wahid bin Qais al-Shami.
◈ Imam Yahya bin Saeed Qattan رحمه الله says:
[كان الحسن بن ذكوان يحدث عنه بعجائب]
Hasan bin Zikwan used to narrate strange and rejected (denounced) reports from Abd al-Wahid bin Qais al-Shami.
Reference: Al-Jarh wa At-Ta'dil by Ibn Abi Hatim: 23/6, and its chain is authentic
② Hasan bin Zikwan is weak and a fabricator.
③ Abd al-Wahid bin Qais did not hear from Sayyiduna Ubada bin As-Samit رضي الله عنه.
Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal رحمه الله has called this hadith "rejected".
Reference: Musnad Imam Ahmad: 322/5
Hadith Number ③
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ubada bin As-Samit رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
[الأبدال في أمتي ثلاثون، بهم تقوم الأرض، وبهم تمطرون وبهم تنصرون]
There will be thirty Abdal in my Ummah. Because of them, the earth will remain established, and because of them, rain will be sent upon you, and you will be helped.
Reference: Tafsir Ibn Kathir: 304/1, Majma' az-Zawa'id: 63/10
The chain is weak.
①,② Regarding Amr bin Waqid and Anbasa Khawas, Hafiz Haythami رحمه الله says:
[كلاهما لم أعرفه] I do not know these two.
Reference: Majma' az-Zawa'id: 63/10
③ Qatadah is a fabricator; he did not specify the source of hearing.
Hadith Number ④
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ali ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
[إن الأبدال بالشام يكونون، وهم أربعون رجلا، بهم تسقون الغيث، وبهم تنصرون على أعدائكم، ويصرف عن أهل الأرض البلاء والغرق]
There will be Abdal in Sham, and they will be forty men. Because of them, you will be given rain, and because of them, you will be granted victory over your enemies, and because of them, the people of the earth will be saved from hardships and drowning in water.
Reference: Tarikh Ibn Asakir: 289/1
The chain is weak. Shurayh ibn Ubaid did not hear from Sayyiduna Ali ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه.
◈ Hafiz Ibn Asakir رحمه الله says:
[هذا منقطع بين شريح وعلي، فإنه لم يلقه]
This narration is disconnected between Shurayh and Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه, because Shurayh did not meet Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه.
Hadith Number ⑤
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Malik bin Awf رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said about the people of Sham:
[فيهم الأبدال، وبهم تنصرون، وبهم ترزقون]
Among them will be the Abdal. Because of them, you will be helped and because of them, you will be provided sustenance.
Reference: Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir by al-Tabarani: 65/18, Tarikh Ibn Asakir: 290/1
The chain is very weak.
① Amr bin Waqid is weak and abandoned.
Reference: Taqreeb al-Tahdheeb by Ibn Hajar: 5132
◈ Hafiz Haithami رحمه الله says:
[قد ضعفه جمهور الأئمة]
The majority of the Imams have declared it weak.
Reference: Majma' al-Zawa'id: 63/10
② Muhammad bin Mubarak Suri and his follower Hisham bin Ammar did not meet Amr bin Waqid. Amr bin Waqid died in 130 AH, while both of them were born in 153 AH.
Hadith Number ⑥
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
[الأبدال يكونون بالشام، وهم أربعون رجلا، كلما مات رجل أبدل الله مكانه رجلا، يسقىٰ بهم الغيث، وينتصر بهم على الأعداء، ويصرف عن أهل الشام بهم العذاب]
The Abdal are in Sham. They are forty men. When one of them dies, Allah replaces him with another. Because of them, you are given rain, help is granted against enemies, and also, because of them, punishment is averted from the people of Sham.
Reference: Musnad al-Imam Ahmad: 112/1
The chain is weak. Shurayh ibn Ubaid did not meet or hear directly from Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).
◈ Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
[هو حديث منقطع، ليس بثابت]
This hadith is disconnected; it is not established.
Reference: Al-Furqan, p. 101
◈ Allama Ibn Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
[لا يصح أيضا، فإنه منقطع]
This narration is also not established because it is disconnected.
Reference: Al-Manar al-Munif, p. 136
A disconnected hadith is weak. The continuity of the chain is an essential and fundamental condition for the authenticity of a hadith.
Hadith Number ⑦
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
[الأبدال أربعون رجلا وأربعون امرأة كلما مات رجل بدل الله مكانه رجلا وكلما ماتت امرأة بدل الله مكانها امرأة]
The Abdal are forty men and forty women. When one of the men dies, Allah replaces him with another, and when a woman dies, Allah replaces her with another woman.
Reference: Musnad al-Dailami: 119/1, Hadith: 405, Al-Qawl al-Musaddad by Ibn Hajar: 83, from the path of al-Khallal
The chain of narration is weak.
◈ Hafiz Ibn al-Jawzi رحمه الله says:
[فيه مجاهيل] There are many unknown narrators in it.
Reference: Al-Mawdu'at: 125/3
Also, Ata Khorasani does not have a direct hearing from Sayyiduna Anas رضي الله عنه, so this chain is also disconnected.
Hadith Number ⑧
It is narrated from Ata bin Abi Rabah, may Allah have mercy on him, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
[الأبدال من الموالي] They will be among the Abdal (substitutes).
Reference: Mizan al-I'tidal by al-Dhahabi: 47/2
The narration is weak.
① Ata bin Abi Rabah is a Tabi'i narrating directly from the Holy Prophet ﷺ, so the chain is mursal.
② Abu Ubaid Ajri is unknown.
③ Rijal bin Salim is unknown.
◈ Hafiz al-Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
[لا يدرى من هو، والخبر منكر]
There is no trace of him and this narration is rejected.
Reference: Mizan al-I'tidal: 47/2
Hadith Number ⑨
It is narrated from Bakr bin Khunais that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
[علامة أبدال أمتي أنهم لا يلعنون شيئا أبدا]
The sign of the Abdal of my Ummah is that they do not curse anything.
Reference: Kitab al-Awliya by Ibn Abi al-Dunya: 59
The chain is weak.
① Bakr bin Khunais is a weak and abandoned narrator from Kufa.
② He is a Tabi' al-Tabi'in, how could he narrate a Marfu' hadith? Therefore, the chain is problematic (consecutively disconnected).
③ Abdul Rahman bin Muhammad al-Muharibi is a fabricator; no specification of hearing is mentioned.
Hadith Number ⑩
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
[لن تخلو الأرض مثل إبراهيم خليل الرحمٰن، بهم تغاثون، وبهم ترزقون، وبهم تمطرون]
The earth will never be devoid of people like Ibrahim Khalilur Rahman عليه السلام. Because of them, you will be helped, provided sustenance, and rain will be sent down.
Reference: Kitab al-Majruhīn by Ibn Hibban: 61/2, T: 605
It is fabricated. It was fabricated by Abdur Rahman bin Marzuq bin Awf.
◈ Imam Ibn Hibban رحمه الله says:
[يضع الحديث، لا يحل ذكره إلا علىٰ سبيل القدح فيه]
He used to fabricate hadiths; mentioning him without criticism is not permissible.
Hadith Number ⑪
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Saeed Khudri رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
[إن أبدال أمتي لم يدخلوا الجنة بالأعمال، ولٰكن إنما دخلوها برحمة الله، وسخاوة الأنفس، وسلامة الصدور، ورحمة لجميع المسلمين]
The Abdal of my Ummah will not enter Paradise because of their deeds, but they will enter due to Allah’s mercy, the generosity of souls, the peace of hearts, and being a mercy for all Muslims.
Reference: Shu'ab al-Iman by Al-Bayhaqi: 10394
The chain is very weak.
① Salih bin Basheer Marri Abu Bashar Basri is weak.
Reference: Taqreeb at-Tahdheeb by Ibn Hajar: 2844
② Hasan Basri رحمه الله is a fabricator; no specification of hearing is given.
Hadith Number ⑫
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
[البدلاء أربعون، اثنان وعشرون بالشام وثمانية عشر بالعراق كلما مات منهم واحد بدل الله مكانه آخر فإذا جاء الأمر قبضوا كلهم فعند ذٰلك تقوم الساعة]
The Abdal are forty in number; twenty-two are in Sham and eighteen in Iraq. When one of them dies, Allah replaces him with another, and when Allah's command comes, they will all die. At that time, the Day of Judgment will be established.
Reference: Al-Kamil by Ibn Adi: 220/5
The narration is fabricated. Alaa bin Zaid Thaqafi is a fabricator (of hadith). Imam Ibn Adi رحمه الله declared it "Munkar al-Hadith" (rejected). Senior hadith scholars have said it is "Matrook" (abandoned).
Hadith Number ⑬
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
[لن تخلو الأرض من أربعين رجلا مثل إبراهيم خليل الرحمٰن، فبهم يسقون وبهم ينصرون، ما مات منهم أحد إلا أبدل الله مكانه آخر]
The earth will never be devoid of forty men like Ibrahim Khalilullah عليه السلام. Because of them, rain will be sent down upon you and you will be helped. When one of them dies, Allah will replace him with another.
Reference: Al-Mu'jam al-Awsat by al-Tabarani: 247/4, Hadith: 4101
The chain is weak.
①, ②, ③ Abdul Wahhab bin Ata Khuffaf, Saeed bin Abi Arooba, and Qatadah are all mudallis (those who conceal defects in the chain), the confirmation of hearing is not established.
④ Ishaq bin Zuraq is unknown.
Hadith Number ⑭
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Masood رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
[لا يزال أربعون رجلا من أمتي قلوبهم علىٰ قلب إبراهيم، يدفع الله بهم عن أهل الأرض، يقال لهم الأبدال]
There will always be forty men in my Ummah whose hearts will be like the heart of Ibrahim عليه السلام. Because of them, the people of the earth will be relieved of hardships. They are called 'Abdal'.
Reference: Al-Mu'jam al-Kabeer by Al-Tabarani: 181/10, Hilyat al-Awliya by Abu Nu'aym: 172/4
The chain is weak.
① Al-A'mash is a mudallis, did not clarify the hearing.
② Thabit bin Ayyash Ahadab is unknown.
Hadith Number ⑮
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Masood (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
[إن للٰه عز وجل في الخلق ثلاثمائة قلوبهم علىٰ قلب آدم عليه السلام، وللٰه تعالىٰ في الخلق أربعون قلوبهم علىٰ قلب موسىٰ عليه السلام، وللٰه تعالىٰ في الخلق سبعة قلوبهم علىٰ قلب إبراهيم عليه السلام، وللٰه تعالىٰ في الخلق خمسة قلوبهم علىٰ قلب جبريل عليه السلام، وللٰه تعالىٰ في الخلق ثلاثة قلوبهم علىٰ قلب ميكائيل عليه السلام، وللٰه تعالىٰ في الخلق واحد قلبه علىٰ قلب إسرافيل عليه السلام]
Among the creation, there are three hundred servants of Allah whose hearts are like the heart of Adam (peace be upon him), forty whose hearts are like the heart of Musa (Moses) (peace be upon him), seven whose hearts are like the heart of Ibrahim (Abraham) (peace be upon him), five whose hearts are upon the heart of Jibra'il (Gabriel) (peace be upon him), three whose hearts are upon the heart of Mikail (Michael), and one servant whose heart is upon the heart of Israfil (peace be upon him).
Reference: Hilyat al-Awliya by Abu Nu'aym: 8/1
This is a fabricated narration.
◈ Hafiz Dhahabi (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
[هو كذب، فقاتل الله من وضع هٰذا الإفك]
This is a lie. May Allah destroy the one who invents this lie.
Reference: Mizan al-I'tidal: 50/3
◈ He also says:
[أتهمه به أو عثمان]
I consider Abdul Rahim bin Yahya or Uthman bin Amarah responsible for this lie.
Reference: Mizan al-I'tidal: 608/2
This hadith was fabricated by Abdul Rahim bin Yahya or Uthman bin Amarah. Both these individuals are unknown and obscure. Also, Ibrahim al-Nakha'i is a mudallis (one who conceals the chain of narration); he did not clarify the hearing (sama').
Hadith Number ⑯
It is narrated from Muhammad bin Ali bin Jafar Abu Bakr Katani Sufi:
[النقباء ثلاث مائة، والنجباء سبعون، والبدلاء أربعون، والأخيار سبعة، والعمد أربعة، والغوث واحد]
There are three hundred Naqaba, seventy Najba, forty Abdal, seven Akhyar, four Qutb, and one Ghawth.
Reference: (Tarikh Baghdad by Al-Khatib: 75/3)
It is a lie, fabricated by Ali bin Abdullah bin Al-Hasan bin Jahdam Al-Hamdani.
◈ Hafiz Al-Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
[متهم بوضع الحديث] This hadith is accused of fabrication.
Reference: Mizan al-I'tidal: 142/3
◈ He also says:
[ليس بثقة، بل متهم، يأتي بمصائب]
He is not trustworthy, rather he is accused. He narrates a flood of lies.
Reference: Siyar A'lam al-Nubala: 376/17
The following words of this false and weak statement are:
[مسكن النقباء المغرب، ومسكن النجباء مصر، ومسكن الأبدال الشام، والأخيار سياحون في الأرض، والعمد في زوايا الأرض، ومسكن الغوث مكة، فإذا عرضت الحاجة من أمر العامة ابتهل فيها النقباء، ثم النجباء، ثم الأبدال، ثم الأخيار، ثم العمد، ثم أجيبوا، وإلا ابتهل الغوث، فلا يتم مسألته حتىٰ تجاب دعوته]
The dwelling place of the Naqaba is the Maghreb, the Najba is Egypt, the Abdal is Sham. The Akhyar are travelers (those who roam). The Qutb are in the corners of the earth, and the dwelling place of the Ghawth is Mecca. When a general calamity befalls creation, the Naqaba raise their hands in supplication, then the Najba, then the Akhyar, then the Qutb, and if it is not accepted, the Ghawth raises his hands in supplication until the prayer is accepted even before it is completed.
Reference: Tarikh Baghdad by Al-Khatib: 75/3
Our Master Ali bin Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, says:
[ستكون فتنة يحصل الناس منها كما يحصل الذهب في المعدن، فلا تسبوا أهل الشام، وسبوا ظلمتهم، فإن فيهم الأبدال، وسيرسل الله إليهم سيبا من السماء فيغرقهم حتىٰ لو قاتلتهم الثعالب غلبتهم، ثم يبعث الله عند ذٰلك رجلا من عترة الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم في اثني عشر ألفا إن قلوا، وخمسة عشر ألفا إن كثروا، أمارتهم أو علامتهم أمت أمت علىٰ ثلاث رايات يقاتلهم أهل سبع رايات ليس من صاحب راية إلا وهو يطمع بالملك، فيقتتلون ويهزمون، ثم يظهر الهاشمي فيرد الله إلى الناس إلفتهم ونعمتهم، فيكونون علىٰ ذٰلك حتىٰ يخرج الدجال]
Soon a trial will appear. People will come out of it like refined gold comes out of a furnace. Do not speak ill of all the people of Sham, but only of those among them who commit oppression, because there will also be Abdal (righteous people) among the people of Sham. Allah Almighty will send down rain from the sky upon the people of Sham and drown them. Even if cunning people like foxes fight against them, they will overcome them. Then Allah will send a person from the family of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ (the Mahdi) with at least twelve thousand and at most fifteen thousand people. Their sign will be «أَمِتْ أَمِتْ». They will be on three flags. Seven flags will fight against them. Each flag will desire kingship. They will fight and be defeated, then the Hashemi (Mahdi) will prevail, and Allah Almighty will restore love and affection towards them among the people. They will remain so until the emergence of the Dajjal.
Reference: Al-Mustadrak by Al-Hakim: 596/4, Hadith: 8658, and its chain is authentic
Imam Hakim, may Allah have mercy on him, said about it ’’صحیح الاسناد‘‘ and Hafiz Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him, said it is "authentic".
In the definition and explanation of Abdal, Allama Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) (728 AH) states:
[فسروه بمعان: منها أنهم أبدال الأنبياء ومنها أنه كلما مات منهم رجل أبدل الله تعالى مكانه رجلا ومنها أنهم أبدلوا السيئات من أخلاقهم وأعمالهم وعقائدهم بحسنات، وهٰذه الصفات كلها لا تختص بأربعين ولا بأقل ولا بأکثر ولا تحصر بأهل بقعة من الأرض]
The scholars have explained several meanings of it. One is that they are the substitutes of the Prophets. Another is that when one of them passes away, Allah Almighty appoints another person in his place. Another is that they have removed evils from their morals, actions, and beliefs and replaced them with virtues. These attributes are not exclusive to forty or so, nor is the presence of Abdal prohibited in any region other than (Syria).
Reference: (Majmoo' al-Fatawa: 442/11)
Moment of Reflection:
Haji Kifayatullah Sahib narrates: Aala Hazrat (Ahmad Raza Khan Barelvi) went to Banaras. One day at noon, there was a gathering at a place. I was with him. On the way back, he told the tongawala (carriage driver): Take the route passing in front of such-and-such temple. I was surprised: when did Aala Hazrat come to Banaras, how did he become familiar with the streets here, and when did he hear the name of this temple? While I was in this wonder, the tonga reached in front of the temple, and I saw a sadhu coming out of the temple and running towards the tonga. He stopped the tonga. The sadhu greeted Aala Hazrat respectfully and whispered something in his ear, which I could not understand. Then the sadhu went back into the temple, and the tonga started moving again. Then I asked: Sir! Who was that? He said: Abdal of the time. I asked: In the temple? He said: Eat mangoes, don’t count the leaves.
Reference: Aala Hazrat, Aala Seerat by Muhammad Raza Al-Hasan Qadri Barelvi, p. 134
