Question

Is the following narration authentic?

عن رجل من خثعم قال: أتيت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وهو في نفر من أصحابه قال قلت أنت الذي تزعم أنك رسول الله؟ قال: نعم. قال: قلت يا رسول الله، أي الأعمال أحب إلى الله؟ قال: إيمان بالله. قال قلت: يا رسول الله، ثم مه؟ قال: ثم صلة الرحم. قال قلت يا رسول الله، أي الأعمال أبغض إلى الله؟ قال:الإشراك بالله. قال: قلت: يا رسول الله، ثم مه؟ قال: ثم قطيعة الرحم. قال: قلت: يا رسول الله، ثم مه؟ قال: ثم الأمر بالمنكر والنهي عن المعروف

Answer

Imam Abu Ya’la (rahimahullah) has recorded this Hadith. ‘Allamah Mundhiri (rahimahullah) has declared the chain authentic (jayyid) and ‘Allamah Haythami (rahimahullah) has declared the narrators reliable.

(Musnad Abu Ya’la, Hadith: 6839, Targhib, vol. 3, pg. 335-336, Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 8, pg. 151)

Translation

A Sahabi from the Khat’am tribe says, “I came to Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) while he was in a gathering of Sahabah and asked him, ‘Are you the person who claims to be a Nabi’? Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘Yes.’ I asked, O Rasulullah! Which actions are most beloved to Allah?’ He replied, ‘Iman [Belief] in Allah.’ I asked, ‘Then what?’ He said, ‘Joining ties.’

Then I asked, ‘O Rasulullah! Which actions are most detestable to Allah?’ He said, ‘Ascribing partners to Him.’ I asked, ‘Then what?’ He said, ‘Severing ties.’ I asked, ‘O Rasulullah! Then what’? He said, [Abandoning] enjoining good and forbidding evil.’

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar