Question

What is status of following narration?

ما أدري تبع ألعينا كان أم لا؟ وما أدري ذو القرنين أنبيا كان أم لا؟

Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“I don’t know if Tubba’ is cursed or not and I don’t know if Dhul Qarnayn was a Nabi or not”

 

Answer

Imams Hakim, Bazzar and Bayhaqi (rahimahumullah) have recorded this as part of a longer narration.

(Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 1 pg. 36, As Sunanul Kubra, vol. 8 pg. 329. Musnad Bazzar; Al Bahruz Zakkhar Hadith: 8519 and Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 4641 with variation in the wording)

 

The Muhaddithun have differed with regard to the authenticity of this Hadith and as to which version is correct. [The mursal or mawsul]. Imam Hakim (rahimahullah) has declared the Hadith authentic and ‘Allamah Dhahabi concurs. Hafiz Ibn Hajar Al ‘Asqalani (rahimahullah) has also declared the Hadith authentic.

(Fathul Bari, Hadith: 18, vol. 1 pg. 66)

 

The Muhaddithun have explained that it is possible that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said this at an early stage, for there are other [weak] narrations wherein Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) prohibited swearing Tubba’ due to his acceptance of Islam.

(See Musnad Ahmad, vol. 5 pg. 340. Also see: Footnotes of Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah on Abu Dawud, Hadith: 4641)

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

 

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

 

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar