Question

Is this Hadith reliable?

“Maintain what your father loved. Do not cut it off lest Allah puts out your light.”

 

Answer

This Hadith is suitable to quote and has been recorded in numerous Hadith collections. Imam Bukhari (rahimahullah) has recorded the following version in his Al Adabul Mufrad:

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) was once on a journey and he passed by a Bedouin. The Bedouin’s father had been a friend of ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu). ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar said to the Bedouin, ‘Are you not the son of so-and-so?’ He replied, ‘Yes, indeed.’

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) instructed that he be given the donkey which he would ride on [when not riding on his camel]. He also took off his turban and gave it to him, One of the men with him said, [Since he is a simple Bedouin] ‘Wouldn’t two dirhams be sufficient?’

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar replied, Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘Maintain ties with those whom your father loved, do not break off [ties], lest Allah put out your celestial light [in this world/in the Hereafter].’

(Al Adabul Mufrad, Hadith: 40. Also see Faydul Qadir, Hadith: 265 and footnotes of Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah of Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah, under Hadith: 26890)

Imam Muslim (rahimahullah) has also recorded this incident with slight variation in the wording. The last part of the Hadith in Sahih Muslim is as follows:

“The best form of obedience to parents, is for a child to maintain ties with those whom his father was close to”

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2552)

Also see here for an article on a similar topic.

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar