Question

What is the status of the following narration and can it be quoted?

Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Whomsoever performs Salah directly behind the Imam will receive one hundred rewards, whomsoever performs Salah on the right hand side of the Imam receives seventy five rewards and whomsoever performs Salah on the left of the Imam receives fifty rewards”

Answer

Imam Daylami (rahimahullah) has recorded this Hadith on the authority of Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhuma).

(Musnadul Firdaws, Hadith: 5678)

However, ‘Allamah Suyuti (rahimahullah) has mentioned this Hadith in his book on fabricated narrations. Hafiz Ibn ‘Iraq (rahimahullah) says “The chain of narrators consists of many narrators whom I am unaware of”. The narration in question should not be quoted.

(Dhaylul La-Alil Masnu’ah, vol. 1, pg. 413 and Tanzihush Shari’ah, vol. 2, pg. 120)

There are reliable narrations which encourage offering Salah in the first row (behind the Imam). These should be quoted instead.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar