Question
What is the status of this narration:
فمن سبقهم بخدمة لم يسبقوه بعمل إلا الشهادة
Answer
This is part of a longer narration recorded in Shu’abul Iman. The full Hadith is as follows:
Sayyiduna Sahl ibn Sa’d (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The leader of people during travel is the one serving them. Whoever surpasses them through serving them, will not be surpassed [in reward] except through martyrdom.”
(Shu’abul Iman, Hadith: 8050)
There are some narrators in this chain whom I could not locate. However, ‘Allamah Sakhawi (rahimahullah) has cited another weak Hadith which corroborates the Hadith in question.
(Refer: Al Maqasidul Hasanah, Hadith: 579, Al Ajwibatul Mardiyyah, vol. 1 pg. 103)
Note: The First part of this Hadith, ‘The leader of people during travel is the one serving them’ has been recorded in other Hadith collections as well.
(Refer: Al Maqasidul Hasanah, Hadith: 579, Al Ajwibatul Mardiyyah, vol. 1 pg. 103)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar