Question
Is this Hadith authentic?
لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ {خُذِ الْعَفْوَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْعُرْفِ , وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ الْجَاهِلِينَ} [الأعراف: 199] , قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لِجِبْرِيلَ: مَا هَذَا؟ , قَالَ: لَا أَدْرِي حَتَّى أَسْأَلَ الْعَالِمَ , قَالَ: فَأَتَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ , فَقَالَ: يَا مُحَمَّدُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تَعْفُوَ عَمَّنْ ظَلَمَكَ , وَتُعْطِيَ مَنْ حَرَمَكَ , وَتَصِلَ مَنْ قَطَعَكَ
Answer
This narration has been reported with several chains. ‘Allamah ‘Iraqi (rahimahullah) has graded the chains sound.
(Tafsir ‘Abdur Razzaq, Tafsir Ibn Abi Hatim, Ibn Marduyah, Surah, Al A’raf, Verse: 199. Refer: Al Mughni ‘An Hamlil Asfar, Hadith: 2679 and Tafsir Ibn Kathir)
Translation
When the Verse ‘Adopt forgiveness, command what is right, and turn away from the ignorant’ was revealed, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) asked Jibril (‘alayhis salam), ‘What does this [refer to]?’ Jibril (‘alayhis salam) said, ‘I do not know, I will ask [Allah]. Jibril (‘alayhis salam) then came to Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and said, O Muhammad! Allah Ta’ala is commanding you [i.e. the explanation of the verse is] to forgive those who oppress you, give those who deprive you and join ties with those who sever ties with you”
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar