Question
Is this incident reliable?
“It was said that once Nabi Musa (‘alayhis salam) asked his Rabb to show him his companion in Jannah. Allah Ta’ala revealed to him, “O Musa! Go to such and such town and you shall see your companion in Jannah.” Musa (‘alayhis salam) set out and arrived at the town. He met a young man on the way, so Musa (‘alayhis salam) greeted him and said, “Peace be upon you. I am your guest tonight.” The young man said, “If you accept what I shall offer you, I shall welcome you in my house and show hospitality to you.” Musa (‘alayhis salam) said, “I accept what you offer me.”
The young man agreed to have him as his guest for that night and took him to his shop. He was a butcher; he asked him to sit until he finishes his selling and buying. As he was cutting the meat, he would put all the fat and bone marrow aside. Then, after he had finished his work, he took Musa (‘alayhis salam) to a house and cooked the fat and bone marrow.
Then the young man went inside a house where there were two large baskets hanging from the ceiling. He carefully brought down one of the two. There was an old man inside that basket whose eyebrows above his eyes had fallen from old age. He took him out of the basket, washed his face and clothes and scented them with incense. He then clothed the old man, took some bread and broke it to pieces then poured the fat and bone marrow on it and fed the old man until he was full and gave him water to drink until he was satisfied. The old man said, “O my son! May Allah never cause your efforts with me to go unrewarded and may He make you the companion of Musa ibn ‘Imran in Jannah!” Then, the young man brought down the second basket, and there was an old woman inside it. He did the same with her and she said, “Praise be to Allah, my dear son, may Allah never cause your efforts with me to go unrewarded and may He make you the companion of Musa ibn ‘Imran in Jannah!” The young man then put the baskets back in place.
Musa (‘alayhis salam) left the house with tearful eyes, feeling pity for the old parents. The young man followed him and brought food for him. Musa (‘alayhis salam) said, “My brother, I am in no need of your food, but I have asked Allah to show me my companion in Jannah and He revealed to me that you shall be him.” The young man exclaimed, “Who are you may Allah have mercy upon you?” He said, “I am Musa ibn ‘Imran.”
The young man fell to the ground unconscious. He entered upon his parents and told them that Allah Ta’ala has answered their supplications and that it was Musa himself who informed him that Allah revealed to him. Upon hearing that, they both gasped and passed away.” Musa (‘alayhis salam) washed them and performed the funeral prayer over them. The young man accompanied Musa (‘alayhis salam) until he passed away.”
(Az Zahrul Faih Fi Dhikri Man Tanazzaha ‘Anidh Dhunubi Wal Qabaih)
Answer
The source you have provided has cited this incident without a chain of narrators.
I have not come across this incident in any primary Hadith source nor have I come across a chain of narrators. I am therefore unable to verify the authenticity.
This incident seems to be sourced from Israiliyyat (Historical sources).
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar