Question
Is this Hadith Sharif reliable?
قال صلى الله عليه و سلم: أُمَّتي أُمَّةٌ مرحومَةٌ ليس عليها عذابٌ في الْآخرَةِ إنَّما عذابُها في الدُّنيا : الزَّلازِلُ والفتَنُ والبَلايا
Answer
This Hadith is recorded by Imams Abu Dawud, Hakim and others.
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 4277 and Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 4 pg. 444)
Imam Hakim (rahimahullah) has graded this Hadith as authentic (sahih), and ‘Allamah Dhahabi (rahimahullah) concurs. ‘Allamah Busiri (rahimahullah) has declared the narrators of one chain as all reliable. This Hadith is also understood as being sound (hasan) according to Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah).
(Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 4 pg. 444, Ithaful Khiyaratil Maharah, Hadith: 9900 and Hidayatur Ruwat, Hadith: 5303)
Translation
Sayyiduna Abu Musa Al-Ash’ary (radiyallahu’anhu) reports that Nabi (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) said:
‘My Ummah is one that enjoys [Allah’s] mercy. It will not be punished in the Hereafter. Its [share of] punishment is in the world in the form of trials, earthquakes and killings.’
Explanation
Since there are numerous Hadiths that mention some individuals of this Ummah being punishable in the Hereafter for their sins, the ‘Ulama have offered several explanations to the Hadith in question:
1. This Hadith does not cover everyone in the Ummah. Some people will be recipients of this mercy, while others will fall under the purport of the other Hadiths (that mention punishment in the Akhirah).
2. It pertains to the part of the Ummah that Nabi (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) was addressing, i.e, the Sahabah (radiyallahu’anhum).
3. This Hadith could apply to all the believers in this Ummah, and whoever among them will enter Jahannam, will not really feel the punishment therein.
(Sharh Ibn Raslan, Hadith: 4278, Faydul Qadir, Hadith: 1622 and Mirqat, Hadith: 5374)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar