Question

The following has been attributed to the words of Imam Ghazali (rahimahullah).

“O Dawud, you want and I want, so if you submit to what I want, I will take care of what you want. And if you don’t submit to what I want, I will exhaust you in what you want, and then you will only get what I want”

Are these the words of Imam Ghazali, a Hadith or the words of Allah Ta’ala?

Answer

These are not the words of Imam Ghazali (rahimahullah) nor are they a Hadith of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). Imam Ghazali (rahimahullah) has cited this narration as a Hadith Qudsi that Allah revealed to Nabi Dawud (‘alayhis salam), without any chain.

(Ihya ‘Ulumid Din, vol. 8, pg. 533)

Imam Hakim Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) has recorded a very similar narration on the authority of Hasan Al Basri (rahimahullah) who reported that Allah Ta’ala revealed to Dawud (‘alayhis salam).

(Nawadirul Usul, Hadith: 732 and 1597)

See this version and the authenticity here.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar