Question

Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Standing guard one night in the path of Allah is better than a man fasting and praying among his family for a thousand years. The year is three hundred and sixty days and each day is like a thousand years”

Is this authentic?

 

Answer

Imam Ibn Majah (rahimahullah) has recorded this narration on the authority of Sayyiduna Anas ibn Malik (radiyallahu ‘anhu). However, ‘Allamah Mundhiri (rahimahullah) states, ‘The Hadith resembles a fabricated Hadith’. The Hadith should not be quoted.

(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 2770, Targhib, vol. 2 pg. 249)

 

There are other authentic Hadiths which explain the virtue of guarding in the path of Allah. These should be quoted instead:

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) reports that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “Two eyes will never be touched by Jahannam; an eye which weeps out of Fear of Allah Ta’ala and an eye which spends the night guarding in the Cause of Allah”

(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 1639. Declared sound by Imam Tirmidhi)

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

 

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

 

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar