Question

Please can you provide me the authenticity of the following Hadith.

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) narrated that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“When Allah drowned Fir’awn, he said [while drowning], ‘I believe that there is no Deity but He in whom the Children of Israel believe.’ Jibril (‘alayhis salam) said to me, ‘O Muhammad! If you could have seen me when I took the mud from the sea and shoved it into his mouth, fearing that the mercy of Allah might save him.”

 

Answer 

Imam Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) has recorded this narration with two chains. He has declared one chain sound (hasan) and the other authentic (hasanun sahih). Imam Ibn Hibban (rahimahullah) has also declared the narration authentic.

(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 3107, 3108, Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 6215)

 

The Hadith commentators explain, ‘Once a person is in the final stages of his life experiencing punishment and seeing the Angels, his Iman and repentance will not be accepted’. Fir’awn’s tawbah was therefore not accepted.

(Refer: Tuhfatul Ahwadhi, Hadith: 3107)

 

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

 

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

 

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar