Question

Can you please tell me the authenticity of the following Hadith:

Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Allah Ta’ala will say, ‘Where are those that prayed Tahajjud?’ To which a few people will get up and then they will be instructed to go to Jannah without any reckoning where as everyone else will be ordered to come for the reckoning.” (Shu’abul Iman of Bayhaqi)

Answer

Imam Bayhaqi (rahimahullah) has recorded this narration as you have stated, but with a weak chain. ‘Allamah Mundhiri (rahimahullah) has also indicated towards its weakness.

(Shu’abul Iman, Hadith: 2974 and Targhib, vol. 1, pg. 425)

However the Hadith in question is suitable to quote and is corroborated by a similar narration reported on the authority of Sayyiduna ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Amir Al Juhani (radiyallahu ‘anhu), which has the following words:

“Allah will gather all the people on one plain on the day of Qiyamah and a caller will call out thrice, ‘Soon all those that are gathered here will know who really has honour’. The caller will then say, ‘Where are those who would separate from their beds’ [to perform tahajjud salah]”

(Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 2, pg. 398/399. Declared authentic by Imam Hakim and ‘Allamah Dhahabi concurs)

A similar narration has also been recorded in Musnadul Harith as the statements of Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) which has been declared as sound –hasan– by Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah).

(Refer: Al Matalibul ‘Aliyah, Hadith: 4557)

Note: The Hadith in question (in Bayhaqi) as well as the supporting narration state that a caller will call out, [perhaps an Angel] not that Allah will call out as you have stated

And Allah Ta’ala knows best,

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar