Question
Is this Hadith authentic?
Al Hakim reported from Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah (radiyallahu ‘anha) that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“Do not slander Waraqah ibn Nawfal for I have seen that he will have one or two gardens in Jannah”
Answer
Imam Hakim (rahimahullah) has recorded this narration and has declared it as authentic.
(Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 2 pg. 609)
Hafiz Abu Bakr Al Bazzar (rahimahullah) has also recorded two versions of this narration. The first via an unbroken chain (متصلا) and the second mursalan (مرسلا), [where the Tabi’i attributes a Hadith directly to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), omitting his source]
(Refer: Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 9 pg. 416)
Imam Daraqutni (rahimahullah) and Hafiz Ibn Kathir (rahimahullah) have preferred the version where the Tabi’i attributed the Hadith directly to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)
(Refer: Al Bidayah Wan Nihayah, vol. 3 pg. 198.)
Nevertheless, the narration in question is still suitable to quote and is further supported by the following narrations:
1) Sayyidatuna Khadijah (radiyallahu ‘anha) asked Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) regarding Waraqah ibn Nawfal. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
” I had seen in in a dream dressed in white clothing. If he were destined for Jahannam I don’t think he would have been wearing white”
(Musnad Ahmad, vol. 6 pg. 65 Hafiz Ibn Kathir has declared the chain of narrators as sound –hasan-. Al Bidayah Wan Nihayah, vol. 3 pg. 197)
2) Sayyiduna Jabir (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallalahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“I saw him [Waraqah ibn Nawfal] walking in the centre of Jannah, wearing a silk garment”
(Musnad Abu Ya’la with a weak chain, Hadith: 2047. Refer: Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 9 pg. 416)
Some Muhaddithun and Biographers of Sahabah were of the view that Waraqah ibn Nawfal was a Sahabi. See here for more details.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar