Question

Is this narration correct?

بعث النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم معاذا إلى اليمن، فقال: يا معاذ اتق الله، وخالق الناس بخلق حسن، وإذا عملت سيئة، فأتبعها حسنة فقال: قلت: يا رسول الله لا إله إلا الله من الحسنات؟ قال: هي من أكبر الحسنات

Answer

‘Allamah Ibn ‘Abdil Barr (rahimahullah) has cited this Hadith in At Tamhid. Hafiz Ibn Rajab Al Hambali (rahimahullah) has graded the chain weak.

(At Tamhid, vol. 15, pg. 8, Jami’ul Ulumi Wal Hikam, vol. 1, pg. 305, Hadith: 18. Also see: Al Mudawi, vol. 1, pg. 172, Hadith: 80)

However, the words that appear in the Hadith, have been authentically reported in other Hadith sources. The Hadith in question is therefore sufficiently corroborated and is suitable to quote.

See the corroborating narrations here and here.

Translation

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) sent Mu’adh (radiyallahu ‘anhu) to Yemen. He said, ‘O Mu’adh! Fear Allah and treat people with excellent character. When you carry out an evil deed, follow it up with a good deed. Sayyiduna Mu’adh says, ‘I asked, O Rasulullah! Is [saying] ‘La ilaha illallah’ regarded to be a good deed?’ Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘It is among the greatest of good deeds.’

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar