Question

Is this Hadith authentic and quotable?

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“The one who fears Allah the most and takes careful consideration to abide by what Allah has enjoined and abstains from what Allah has prohibited has the most mature mind among you even though he does the least voluntary deeds.”

Answer

The full narration in question is as follows:

Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) once asked Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) regarding the Verse ‘[He has created death and life to test] which of you carry out the best acts’ (Surah Mulk, Verse: 2/ Surah Hud, Verse: 7), what does ‘which of you carry out the best acts’ refer to?

Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, [best acts refers to] ‘Which of you have the perfect intellect’. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) further stated, ‘The one who fears Allah the most and takes careful consideration to abide by what Allah has enjoined and abstains from what Allah has prohibited has the most mature mind among you even though he does the least voluntary deeds.’

(Musnadul Harith; Bughyatul Bahith, Hadith: 820)

However this Hadith has been transmitted with an extremely weak chain that consists of a fabricator and a very weak narrator. After citing a few narrations reported from this problematic narrator regarding ‘intellect’, ‘Allamah Suyuti (rahimahullah) quotes Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) who has declared these narrations fabrications. The Hadith in question is not suitable to quote.

(Refer: Mizanul I’tidal, vol. 2, pg. 20, Lisanul Mizan, vol. 8, pg. 234 and Dhaylul La-Alil Masnu’ah, vol. 1, pg. 62 and pg. 65. Also see Sharhul Ihya; Ithafus Sadah Al Muttaqin, vol. 1, pg. 458)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar