Question

What is the authenticity of the narration which states that Sayyiduna ‘Uthman (radiyallahu ‘anhu) asked Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) regarding the explanation of the verse ‘The keys [control] of the heavens and the earth belong to him [Allah]’ (Surah Zumar Verse: 63).

Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said to him, ‘No one has asked me the explanation before you. The explanation is:

There is none worthy of worship except Allah, Allah is the greatest, Allah is the glorious and praiseworthy, I ask Allah for forgiveness, there is no power to do good and no strength to be saved from evil except with the grace of Allah, He is the First and the Last, He is the Apparent and the Hidden, in His hand lies all good, The Giver of life and death, He has ability over everything’

Whomsoever recites these words ten times every morning will be granted ten favours, among them are that he will be protected from Iblis, he will be married to a Hur [Damsel of Jannah], he will be given a huge amount of reward, he will be given the reward of ‘Umrah and Haj and he will die a martyr”

 

Answer

Imam Ibn Abi Hatim Ar Razi, Imam Abu Ya’la (rahimahumallah) and others have recorded this Hadith.

(Tafsir Ibn Abi Hatim, Surah Zumar, Verse: 63. Refer: Al Matalibul ‘Aliyah, Hadith: 3701 and Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 10 pg. 115)

 

This Hadith has also been reported with another chain, and has variations in the wording. However, The Muhaddithun have declared the text of this Hadith unreliable. ‘Allamah Dhahabi (rahimahullah) states ‘In my opinion, this is a fabrication’.

After citing ‘Allamah Dhahabi’s ruling, Hafiz Ibn Hajar Al ‘Asqalani (rahimahullah) cites the ruling of another Muhaddith who also felt that this Hadith is a fabrication. ‘Hafiz Ibn Kathir (rahimahullah) has declared the text of the Hadith as extremely unreliable (fihi nakarah shadidah)

(Mizanul I’tidal, vol. 4 pg. 308, Lisanul Mizan, vol. 8 pg. 18, Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Surah Zumar, Verse: 63)

 

The Hadith should therefore not be quoted.

 

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

 

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

 

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar