Question

Is the famous incident about Sayyiduna Tha’labah ibn Hatib (radiyallahu ‘anhu) asking Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) to make du’a that Allah Ta’ala increase his wealth and him not paying zakah after becoming wealthy authentic?

Answer

Despite this narration being widely quoted, it is unauthentic and not suitable to quote.

Hafiz ibn Hajar and Hafiz Haythami (rahimahumallah) have classified the chain of narrators as very weak.

(See: Al Kafish Shaf of Hafiz ibn Hajar (rahimahullah), pg. 132 and Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 7 pg. 32. Also see Al Isabah, vol. 1 pg. 516)

One should bear in mind that Sayyiduna Tha’labah ibn Hatib (radiyallahu ‘anhu) is a veteran of Badr. Those Sahabah (radiyallahu’anhum) that participated in the battle of Badr hold a lofty status. This sort of narration is in total contrast to his status.

‘Allamah Qurtubi (rahimahullah) and Hafiz ibn ‘Abdil Barr (rahimahullah) have echoed similar sentiments.

(See: Tafsir Al Qurtubi, Surah: 9, verses: 75-78. Also see the footnotes of Shaykh ‘Abdul Fattah Abu Ghuddah (rahimahullah) on Al Ajwibatul Fadilah, pgs. 107-108 and 137-138)

 

Another suitable version

Some Mufassirun have cited a similar narration on the authority of Mujahid (rahimahullah) that two men had said : “If Allah blesses us with wealth we will give abundant zakat/ charity. When Allah Ta’ala bestowed them with wealth they became miserly”

(Tafsir Ibn Abi Hatim, Surah: 9, verse: 75)

This narration should be quoted instead.

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best

 

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

 

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar