Question

What is the status of this narration?

 قال التابعي قتادة: كان المؤمن لا يرى إلا في ثلاثة مواطن: في مسجد يعمره، أو بيت يستره، أو حاجة لا بأس بها

 

Answer

Imam Abu Bakr Ibn Abid Dunya (rahimahullah) has recorded this narration as the statement of the Tabi’i, Qatadah (rahimahullah).

(Kitabul Wara’: 142. Also see Hilyatul Awliya, vol. 2 pg. 341)

 

Imams Abu Nu’aym and Bayhaqi (rahimahumallah) have recorded this narration on the authority of Qatadah (rahimahullah) who reports this as the statement of Khulayd ibn ‘Abdillah Al ‘Asari (rahimahullah), who was also a Tabi’i. This narration also appears in Kitabuz Zuhd of Imam Ahmad as the statement of Khulayd ibn ‘Abdillah Al ‘Asari (rahimahullah).

(Kitabuz Zuhd of Imam Ahmad ibn Hambal: 1313, Hilyatul Awliya, vol. 2 pg. 232, Shu’abul Iman: 10320)

 

The narration is suitable to quote.

 

Translation

Qatadah (rahimahullah)/ Khulayd ibn ‘Abdillah Al ‘Asari (rahimahullah) said: “A Believer used to only be seen in three places; A Masjid he would frequent, his home that shelters him or [fulfilling] some [worldly] need which he had no option but to tend to.”

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

 

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar