Question

Is the following a Hadith?

“A believer in the Masjid is like a fish in the water and a hypocrite in the Masjid is like a bird in the cage”

 

Answer

‘Allamah ‘Ajluni (rahimahullah) states that although this is famously [quoted] as a Hadith, he does not know of these words to be a Hadith. He further states that this seems to be the statement of Malik ibn Dinar (rahimahullah).

(Kashful Khafa, Hadith: 2689)

 

This should therefore not be quoted as a Hadith of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), despite its meaning being correct.

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

 

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

 

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar