Question
Is the following narration authentic?
A woman came to Musa (‘alayhis salam) and said:
“I committed a grave sin. Please pray to Allah that He forgives me.”
Musa (‘alayhis salam): “What did you do?”
Woman: “I committed fornication and later gave birth to a boy whom I killed.
Musa (‘alayhis salam): “Go away from here, you adulteress (fajirah), lest a fire from Heaven destroys us all because of your sin!”
The woman left with a broken heart. Then Angel Jibril (‘alayhis salam) descended and asked:
“O Musa, why have you turned away a repentant woman? Have you not found anyone worse than her?” Musa (‘alayhis salam): “Who can be worse than her?” Jibril (alayhis salam): “The one who abandons salah intentionally & persistently.”
[Al-Kaba’ir of Dhahabi, Book of Missing Salah]
Answer
This incident is recorded in some unreliable editions of Hafiz Dhahabi’s ‘Al Kabair’ and is not found in the reliable editions.
(Refer: Al Kabair of Hafiz Dhahabi, Dar Al Kalimut Tayyib, edition of Muhyud Din Mustu)
This narration should therefore not be referenced to Hafiz Dhahabi’s Al Kabair. Furthermore, this incident contains statements that is contrary to the status of a Nabi. It is unlikely that Musa (‘alayhis salam) would have uttered these statements and not give this woman any sort of hope.
Abandoning Salah is definitely a serious and grave sin. There are many authentic narrations warning against discarding Salah which should be quoted instead.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar
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التخريج من المصادر العربية
الكبائر للذهبي دار الندوة الجديدة – بيروت ص:٢٤-: روي «أن امرأة من بني إسرائيل جاءت إلى موسى عليه السلام فقالت يا رسول الله إني أذنبت ذنبا عظيما وقد تبت منه إلى الله تعالى فادع الله أن يغفر لي ذنبي ويتوب علي فقال لها موسى عليه السلام وما ذنبك قالت يا نبي الله إني زنيت وولدت ولدا فقتلته فقال لها موسى عليه السلام اخرجي يا فاجرة لا تنزل نار من السماء فتحرقنا بشؤمك فخرجت من عنده منكسرة القلب فنزل جبريل عليه السلام وقال يا موسى الرب تعالى يقول لك لم رددت التائبة يا موسى أما وجدت شرا منها قال موسى يا جبريل ومن هو شر منها قال تارك الصلاة عامدا متعمدا »– انتهى (ولا يصح)