Question
Is this Hadith authentic?
من كثر سواد قوم فهو منهم
“Whoever increases the number of a gathering/group, is part of them”
Answer
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiyallahu ‘anhu) was once invited to a walimah. When he went, he heard music so he did not enter. When someone inquired, he replied, ‘I heard Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) saying, ‘Whoever increases the number of a gathering, is part of them and whoever is pleased with/approves an action of people will be a partner of those carrying out the deed’
Imam Abu Ya’la (rahimahullah) and others have recorded this narration with a weak chain.
(Refer: Al Matalibul ‘Aliyah, Hadith: 1660)
However, there are numerous corroborating narrations which support and raise the level of authenticity of the Hadith in question:
1) Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“Whoever imitates a nation is from among them”
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 4027. See here)
2) Sayyiduna ‘Urs ibn ‘Amirah Al Kindi (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“When a sin is committed in the earth, then the one who sees it and disapproves of it will be regarded to have been absent, but he who is not present physically and approves of it will be regarded to have been present”
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 4345)
3) Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (radiyallahu ‘anhu) was once invited to a walimah. When he went, he heard some sound [music] so he returned. When someone inquired, he replied, “I heard some sounds and whoever increases the number of a gathering, is part of them and whoever is pleased with/approves an action will be a partner of those carrying out the deed”
(Az Zuhd of Imam ‘Abdullah ibn Al Mubarak, pg. 447. Also see Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 2118, Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2884, Ikmalul Mu’lim of Qadi ‘Iyad, Hadith: 2884 and Al Maqasidul Hasanah, Hadith: 1170)
The Hadith in question is sufficiently supported and suitable to quote.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar