Question
Is this Hadith authentic?
Al Hakim reported from Sayyidatuna ‘Aishah (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: Mawlana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar