Question

What is the authenticity of the following Hadiths and are there other narrations like these?

Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is reported to have said: “The white rooster is my friend, and he is also the friend of my friend, the angel Jibril . He is also the enemy of my enemy, Shaytan. The white rooster protects the house in which he is raised and its owner and entire household as well as nine neighbouring houses and their inhabitants.”

“Whoever raises a white rooster in his house will be protected from three things: from evil of Shaytan, the evil of sorcerer and the evil of a soothsayer”

Answer

These narrations have been recorded with several chains in the various Hadith collections. The chains have varied degrees of weakness.

Some Muhaddithun have declared the Hadith a fabrication. Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) was of the view that the text has not reached the level of fabrication. However, after quoting Hafiz Ibn Hajar’s verdict, ‘Allamah Sakhawi (rahimahullah) says, ‘Most of these words are too feeble to be the words of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and there is no nur/beauty [of Nubuwwah] in these words.

(Al Maqasidul Hasanah, Hadith: 499, Tanzihush Shari’ah, vol. Al Asrarul Marfu’ah, Hadith: 206. Also see: Al Manarul Munif, Hadith: 77-79)

Based on ‘Allamah Sakhawi’s (rahimahullah) verdict, these narrations should not be quoted.

The following Hadith regarding the rooster may be quoted instead:

Sayyiduna Zayd ibn Khalid (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “Do not swear the rooster for it awakens/alerts you for Salah”

(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 5060, Musnad Ahmad, vol. 5, pg. 192/193 and Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 5731

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar