Question
Is this Hadith reliable?
Sayyiduna Jabir (radiyallahu ‘anhu) says, “I asked Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) regarding moving away the stones in Salah. He said, ‘Once’ [i.e. you may move the sand/stones once]. And not doing so is better for you than [giving] 100 healthy camels with excellent eyesight [in sadaqah].
Answer
Imam Ahmad, Imam Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah and others (rahimahumullah) have recorded this narration with a weak chain.
(Musnad Ahmad, vol. 3 pg. 300, Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 7911 and Ibn Khuzaymah, Hadith: 897)
Imam Bukhari (rahimahullah) has recorded the following words:
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said regarding smoothing out the earth where a person makes sajdah, “If you do it, then do it only once”
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 1207)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar