Question

What is the reliability of this narration?

“If a man goes out striving to benefit his small children, then it is in the path of Allah. If he goes out striving to benefit his elderly parents, then it is in the path of Allah. If he is striving in order to suffice himself, then it is in the path of Allah”

Answer

The full narration is as follows:

Sayyiduna Ka’b ibn ‘Ujrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) says, “A man once passed by Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). When the Sahabah saw his strength and energy, they said, ‘If only he was out [fighting] in the path of Allah’. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘If he is out earning a livelihood [to spend on his] children, then he is in the path of Allah, and if he is out striving to earn a livelihood [to spend on his] old parents, then he is in the path of Allah. If he is striving to earn a livelihood for himself, so that he can abstain from begging then too he is in the path of Allah. However, if he is striving to earn a livelihood to boast and be proud and arrogant then he is the path of Shaytan”

(Tabarani in Al Mu’jamul Kabir, Hadith: 282, volume: 19)

‘Allamah Mundhiri and Hafiz Haythami (rahimahumallah) have declared the narrators reliable.

(Targhib, vol. 2, pg. 524 and Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 4, pg. 325)

This Hadith is further supported by a similar Hadith reported on the authority of Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu)

(Al Mu’jamul Awsat, Hadith: 4226. Also see Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 4, pg. 325)

And Allah Ta’ala knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar