Question

Is this Hadith authentic?

Sayyiduna Abud Darda (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reported that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said,

“The father is the middle of the door of Jannah, so keep this door or lose it.”

I have also been told there are variations of this Hadith where it says “The father is the key to Jannah” and not the door?

Answer

The Hadith in question has been recorded in numerous Hadith collections with the words “The father is the middle [best] of the doors of Jannah”.

(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 1900, Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 2089 and 3663, Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 425, Musnad Ahmad, vol. 5, pg. 196, Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 25909, Az Zuhd of Imam Hannad ibn Sariy, Hadith: 987, Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 2, pg. 197 and vol. 4, pg. 152, Sharhus Sunnah, Hadith: 3421 and 3422)

Imam Tirmidhi, Imam Ibn Hibban and Imam Hakim (rahimahumullah) have declared the Hadith authentic (sahih).

I have not come across a variation of the Hadith in question with the words “The father is the key to Jannah”.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar