Question

What is the status of the following Hadiths?

1) “Whosoever says ‘marhaban bil qa-ilina ‘adlan marhaban bis salati wa ahlan‘ when he hears the Muadhin, Allah will record 20000 virtues will be written for him, 20000 of his sins will be forgiven and 20000 of his stages will be elevated”

2) Qatadah (rahimahullah) says that whenever ‘Uthman (radiyallahu ‘anhu) heard the Muadhin saying “qad qamatis salah”, he used to say, “marhaban bil qa-ilina ‘adlan wa bis salati marhaban wa ahlan“, then he used to stand up for salah

Answer

1) This Hadith has been declared a fabrication by the Hadith masters. Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has declared the text of this Hadith a fabrication. The Hadith therefore is not suitable to quote.

(Refer: Lisanul Mizan, vol. 8, pg. 344, -number: 8279-, Dhaylul La-Alil Masnu’ah, vol. 1, pg. 402, Tanzihush Shari’ah, vol. 2, pg. 116/7 and Al Masnu’, Hadith: 341)

2) Imam Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah (rahimahullah) has recorded this narration. This was the practice of Sayyiduna ‘Uthman (radiyallahu ‘anhu) which is indeed worthy of emulation.  Furthermore this narration does not mention any virtue or rewards.

(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 2381 and 30392)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar