Question

Can you mention the authenticity of the Hadith regarding a person’s good deeds being granted to those he made ghibah of? You have provided the reference here

Answer

Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“A man’s book of deeds will be brought [on the Day of Qiyamah] and he will say, ‘O Rabb! Where are so and so good deeds I carried out but don’t find them in book of deeds’? Allah will say, ‘They have been deleted due to you backbiting the people”

(At Targhib Wat Tarhib of Imam Isbahani, Hadith: 2250)

This Hadith has been transmitted through a very weak narrator.

(Refer: Kitabul-Jarh Wat Ta’dil, vol. 3, pg. 397 and Lisanul Mizan, vol. 3, pg. 359/360, number: 2939)

See here for a similar authentic narration.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar, with the following note:

Although the Hadith in question has a very weak chain, it does have other authentic supports, like the one in the link provided above. It can therefore be quoted, but its preferable to cite it together with its authentic support cited in that link, just as ‘Allamah Mundhiri (rahimahullah) has done in Targhib.

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar