Question

Is this Hadith suitable to quote?

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Busr (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said: “Some time ago I heard/It used to be said, ‘When you are in a group of people, who number twenty, or more or less, and you examine their faces, and you do not see any person among them who is being respected for the sake of Allah [despite his piety and knowledge], then know well that the condition has weakened [i.e., the people’s piety has decreased and their Din has become weak].”

Answer

Imam Ahmad and Imam Tabarani (rahimahumallah) have recorded this narration.

(Musnad Ahmad, vol. 4, pg. 188, Musnadush Shamiyyin, Hadith: 1008-1009)

‘Allamahs Mundhiri and Haythami  (rahimahumallah) have declared the chain sound (hasan)

(Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 1, pg. 183, Targhib, vol. 1, pg. 115)

Note:

The version in Musnadush Shamiyyin explicitly mentions, ‘Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Busr (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said, ‘It used to be said’ [i.e., Sahabah would say].

The narration should therefore not be quoted as a Hadith of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar