Question

How sound is the Hadith :

“There is no sword better than Dhul Faqar and no man better than ‘Ali”.

Is it authentic or fabricated

Answer

This saying is attributed to Muhammad Al Baqir (rahimahullah), that on the day of Badr an angel called out “There is no better man than ‘Ali, and no sword better than Zul-Faqar”

However, ‘Allama Sakhawi (rahimahullah) has said that this narration is very weak. Mulla ‘Ali Al Qari (rahimahullah) also mentions that this Hadith has no basis and portrays it as this is an innovation of the Shi’ah. Sa’d ibn Tarif is a narrator of this narration, Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) says he is very weak and that he was a Raafidi (an extremist Shi’i). This Hadith is supporting his corrupt beliefs thus rendering his narration as unacceptable

(See: Al Maqasidul Hasanah: 1307, Al Asrarul Marfu’ah, 595 and Taqribut Tahdhib)

 

Hafiz Ibn Kathir (rahimahullah) has cited a lengthier version of this Hadith which attributes these words to Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). However he has declared the text unreliable (munkar).

(Al Bidayah Wan Nihayah, vol. 7 pg. 451)

 

Note: Dhul Faqar being the name of the sword of Nabi (sallalahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is proven in other narrations.

 

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

 

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

 

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar