Question
Is following Hadith authentic?
It was narrated that Sayyiduna Abu Umamah Al-Bahili (radiyallahu ‘anu) said: Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) came out to us, leaning on a stick, and when we saw him, we stood up.
He said: ‘Do not do what the Persians do for their leaders.’
We said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, why don’t you pray to Allah for us?’
He said: ‘Allahummaghfirlana, warhamna, wardha ‘anna, wa taqabbal minna, wa adkhilnal-jannah, wa najjina minan-nar, wa aslih lana sha-nana kullah.
اَللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا، وَارْضَ عَنَّا، وَتَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا، وَأَدْخِلْنَا الْجَنَّةَ، وَنَجِّنَا مِنَ النَّارِ، وَأَصْلِحْ لَنَا شَأْنَنَا كُلَّهُ
[O Allah, forgive us and have mercy on us, be pleased with us and accept (our good deeds) from us, admit us into Jannah [Paradise] and save us from Jahannam [Hell], and rectify all our affairs].’
It was as if we wanted him to say more, but he said: ‘Have I not summed up everything for you?’
Answer
Imams Ibn Majah, Ahmad, and others (rahimahumullah) have recorded this Hadith on the authority of Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (radiyallahu ‘anhu).
(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 3836, and Musnad Ahmad, vol. 5, pg. 253; Also see: Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 5187, Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah along with the footnotes of Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah, Hadith: 26094 and 29963, and Tuhfatul Ashraf, Hadith: 4934)
The Muhaddithun have differed with regards to the ruling of this Hadith. Nonetheless, Imam Mundhiri (rahimahullah) has graded the chain to be sound (إسناده حسن). This Hadith is also understood to have been classified sound (hasan) by Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah), as per the principle in his book, Hidayatur Ruwah. Others have labelled it weak.
(At-Targhib wat Tarhib, Hadith: 4004, and Hidayatur Ruwat, Hadith: 4626; Also see: Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah along with the footnotes of Shaykh Muhammad Awwamah, Hadith: 26094, and Fathul Bari, Hadith: 6262)
Nevertheless, the du’a in the Hadith is indeed suitable for recital.
As far as the permissibility of standing up in honour of a senior is concerned, one should refer to a reliable Mufti/Darul ifta for that, and not view this Hadith in isolation.
And Allah Ta’ala knows best.
Answered by: Mawlana Farhan Shariff
Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar