Question

Is this narration suitable to quote and what is meant by “guluw”?

إياكم والغلو في الدين فإنه أهلك من كان قبلكم الغلو في الدين

“Beware of exaggeration/exceeding the bounds with regards to issues of Din for certainly exceeding the bounds destroyed those before you”

 

Answer

Authenticity

This Hadith has been recorded in several Hadith collections including Sunan Nasai, Sunan Ibn Majah, Musnad Ahmad.

Imams Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Hibban and Hakim (rahimahumullah) have declared the Hadith authentic.

(Sunan Nasai; Al Mujtaba, Hadith: 3057, Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 3029, Musnad Ahmad, vol. 1, pg. 215, Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, Hadith: 2867, Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 3871 and Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 1, pg. 466)

Explanation

The context of the Hadith in question is as follows:

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) picked up seven small pebbles for Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) to pelt the jamarah [during Hajj]. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) tossed the pebbles in his hand saying, ‘Pelt stones these size’ [i.e., not bigger than these]. He then said, ‘O people! Beware of exaggeration/exceeding the bounds with regards to issues of Din for certainly exceeding the bounds destroyed those before you’

‘Allamah ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah) states that this Hadith is general and refers to all aspects of Din, be it one’s Beliefs or actions like overpraising/flattery or criticizing/chastising more than a person deserves.

‘Allamah Sindhi (rahimahullah) says, searching and digging up the hidden reasonings [pertaining to some issues of Din] could also be one explanation.

(Refer: Faydul Qadir, Hadith: 2909 and Hashiyatus Sindhi ‘Ala Sunan Ibn Majah)

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar