Question

What is the authenticity of the following Hadith?

وعن الحسن بن علي رضي الله عنهما قال: سمعت جدي رسول الله ﷺ يقول: أد الفرائض تكن من أعبد الناس، وعليك بالقنوع تكن من أغنى الناس، يا بني، إن في الجنة شجرة يقال لها : شجرة البلوى، يؤتى بأهل البلاء فلا ينصب لهم ميزان، ولا ينشر لهم ديوان، يصب عليهم الأجر صباً، ثم تلا النبي ﷺ إنما يوفى الصابرون أجرهم بغير حساب

 

Answer

The words cited in your question are cited in non primary Hadith sources.

(Refer: Tafsir Qurtubi, Surah: Zumar, Verse: 10)

 

Imam Khatib Baghdadi (rahimahullah) has recorded the following version:

فقال الحسن: سمعت جدّي صلى الله عليه وسلم، وقال لي يوما: ” يا بنيّ، عليك بالقناعة تكن من أغنى الناس، وأدّ الفرائض تكن من أعبد الناس، يا بنيّ إنّ في الجنّة شجرة يقال لها شجرة البلوى، يؤتى بأهل البلاء يوم القيامة، فلا ينصب لهم ميزان ولا ينشر لهم ديوان، يصبّ عليهم الأجر صبّا “، وقرأ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: إنما يوفى الصابرون أجرهم بغير حساب

Sayyiduna Hasan ibn ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) reported that he heard his grandfather (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) once say: “O my beloved son! Adopt contentment, you will be from among the most wealthy of people. Fulfil the obligatory deeds, you will be among the most pious of people. O my beloved son! There is a tree in Jannah called ‘Shajaratul Balwa’ [The tree of trials and difficultly]. Those who were tested [in this word] will be brought on the Day of Qiyamah. No scale will be erected for them nor any books opened. They will receive copious amounts of rewards.” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) then recited the Verse “Those who endure with patience will be rewarded without measure.” (Surah Zumar, Verse: 10)

(Al Muntakhab Min Kitabiz Zuhd war Raqaiq of Khatib Baghdadi, pg. 78)

 

This chain contains two extremely weak narrators. Some Muhaddithun have also declared them liars/fabricators.

(Refer: Mizanul I’tidal, vol. 1 pg. 259, number: 959 and vol. 2 pg. 116, number: 2973)

 

Imam Tabarani (rahimahullah) has also recorded this Hadith with variation in the wording. This chain consists of the same two problematic narrators.

(Al Mu’jamul Kabir, Hadith: 2760. Refer: Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 2 pg. 305)

 

Also see: Talkhisu Kitabil Mawdu’at of ‘Allamah Dhahabi, Hadith: 892 and Tanzihush Shari’ah, vol. 2 pg. 355.

 

The following words should be quoted instead:

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) reported that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The Martyr and the one who would give charity will be brought on the Day of Qiyamah to give accountability. Then those who underwent trials and difficulties [in this world] will be brought forward. There will be no scale erected for them nor will any book be opened. They will receive copious amounts of rewards so much so that those who were not tested [in this world] will wish that their bodies were cut with scissors due to the wonderful reward Allah bestowed upon them [those who were tested].”

(Al Mu’jamul Kabir, Hadith: 12829. Refer: Targhib, vol. 4 pg. 282, Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 2 pg. 304/305 and Al La-Alil Masnu’ah, vol. 2 pg. 333)

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

 

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar