Question

Is this narration authentic?

ذكر عند النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم رجل بعبادة واجتهاد فقال: كيف ذكر صاحبكم للموت؟ قالوا: ما نسمعه يذكره قال: ليس صاحبكم هناك

Answer

Imam Bazzar (rahimahullah) has recorded this Hadith on the authority of Sayyiduna Anas (radiyallahu ‘anhu). ‘Allamah Haythami (rahimahullah) has declared a narrator very weak.

(Musnad Bazzar; Kashful Astar, Hadith: 3622, Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 10, pg. 309)

However, Imam Tabarani (rahimahullah) has recorded a similar narration which corroborates the Hadith in question. ‘Allamah Mundhiri (rahimahullah) has declared this version sound (hasan).

(Targhib, vol. 4, pg. 239)

Therefore, the Hadith in question may be quoted.

Translation

Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was once informed of a person’s ‘ibadah and striving for the cause of Din. He asked, ‘[How often] would he remember death.’ They replied, ‘We never heard him discuss death.’ Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘In that case, he is not of a very high level.’

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar