Question

Is the following Hadith authentic?

“One who drinks in three sips and says ‘Bismillah’ before each sip and ‘Alhamdulillah’ after each sip, the water will make dhikr in his belly until he drinks something else”

Answer

Imam Hakim At Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) has recorded this narration on the authority of Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu).

(Nawadirul Usul, Hadith: 1189)

However, a certain narrator of the above Hadith is known to have reported extremely unreliable narrations from his father, who reports from Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu). He has reported the Hadith in question from his father who has reported from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu), rendering the narration as extremely unreliable.

(Refer: Al Kamil, vol. 2 pg. 500, Tahdhibul Kamal, vol. 4 pg. 24/25 -644- and Mizanul I’tidal, vol. 1 pg. 284 -1075-)

 

The following narration should be quoted instead:

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would drink in three breaths. When he would lift the cup to his mouth, he would say ‘Bismillah’ and when completed [the sip], he would say ‘Alhamdulillah’. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would do this thrice.

(Al Mu’jamul Awsat of Imam Tabarani, Hadith: 844. Declared sound -hasan- by Hafiz Ibn Hajar, Fathul Bari, under Hadith: 5631. Also see Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 5 pg, 81 and Al Futuhatur Rabbaniyyah, vol. 5 pg. 240/241)

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

 

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

 

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar