Question

Please confirm whether this Hadith is authentic. Please also provide the source as well.

“Hasan and Husayn (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) were wrestling in front of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was spurring Hasan (radiyallahu ‘anhu) on. Sayyidah ‘Aishah (radiyallahu ‘anha) asked, ‘You assisting the elder brother’? Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) replied, Jibril (‘alayhis salam) is spurring on Husayn”

 

Answer

The Hadith in question has been recorded in a few Hadith collections. Among them, Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, (Hadith: 32858), Musnadul Harith, (Bughyatul Bahith, Hadith: 992), Kitabul ‘Iyal of Abu Bakr ibn Abid Dunya, (Hadith: 595), Mu’jamush Shuyukh of Abu Ya’la, (Hadith: 196) and Usdul Ghabah, (vol. 2, pg. 25/26 under the biography of Husayn ibn ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhuma).

Hafiz Shamsud Din Dhahabi (rahimahullah) and Hafiz Ibn Hajar Al ‘Asqalani (rahimahumallah) have also cited this incident. (Siyaru A’lamin Nubala, vol. 3, pg. 266 and Al Isabah, vol. 2, pg. 548)

Authenticity

1) ‘Allamah Busiri (rahimahullah) has declared the chain of Musnadul Harith weak. Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has also pointed out that the Hadith is reported “mursalan” (an omission between the Tabi’i and Nabi sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).

(Al Matalibul ‘Aliyah, Hadith: 3966 and Mukhtasar Ithafus Sadah Al Maharah, Hadith: 7589)

2) Imam Abu Bakr Ibn Abid Dunya (rahimahullah)’s chain of narrators consists of reliable narrators who have not been discredited. Imam Ibn ‘Adiy (rahimahullah) has expressed some reservation regarding one particular narrator, however other Muhaddithun have declared him reliable and Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has declared him acceptable (maqbul).

(Refer: Footnotes of Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah on Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 32858 and Taqribut Tahdhib, 4891)

3) Imam Abu Ya’la and Imam Abu Bakr Ibn Abid Dunya report this Hadith from different teachers. The remainder of the chain, after their teachers leading to Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) is the same. Imam Ibn Hibban has declared Imam Abu Ya’la’s teacher reliable.

(Kitabuth Thiqat, vol. 5, pg. 200)

Also see Sharhu Madhahibi Ahlis Sunnah of Imam Ibn Shahin, Hadith: 173 and Kanzul ‘Ummal, Hadith: 37682, -vol. 13-).

Note

Some versions of this narration suggest that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and Jibril were both spurring on Husayn (radiyallahu ‘anhu). However the version cited in the question seems to be the correct version.

(See: Footnotes of Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah on Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 32858)

Summary

This Hadith has been reported with a few chains which when combined gain collective strength. The chain of narrators of Imam Abu Bakr Ibn Abid Dunya and Imam Abu Ya’la seem to be the most reliable chains.

The Hadith in question is suitable to quote.

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar