Question

I would like to know about the reliability of this Hadith:

It is written that when Nabi Adam (‘alayhis salam) was expelled from Jannah, he asked for forgiveness from Allah in the name of Nabi Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and Allah said to him, ‘Where do you know about Muhammad, while I had not created him yet? Nabi Adam (‘alayhis salam) said, ‘When you gave me life, and when I looked up and saw written on your ‘Arsh:

“la ilaha illallahu muhammadur rasulullah”.

Answer

This exact narration is recorded in the following references:

Al-Mustadrak of Imam Hakim, vol. 2, pg. 615, Dala’il Al-Nubuwwah of Imam Bayhaqi, vol. 5, pg. 489 and al-Mu’jamus Saghir of Imam Tabarani, vol. 2, pg. 82.

The status of this narration has been extensively disputed by the various Muhaddithun. Some have accepted it to be authentic and others rejected it.

However, there is another narration that supports this narration recorded by Imam Abul-Hasan ibn Bishran (rahimahullah) on the authority of Sayyidatuna Maysarah (radiyallahu ‘anha). The chain of narrators for this Hadith is totally different from the previous one. And in fact, Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has stated concerning a different version of this narration which has the very same chain of narrators, that this chain of narrators is strong.

(Ar-Raddul-Muhkamul-Matin pgs. 138-139; al-Ahadith Al-Muntaqah pg. 14, both of Shaykh ‘Abdullah Siddiqi Al-Ghumari).

Conclusion

The narration in question is suitable to quote. Although the second one is stronger.

Lastly, see a detailed article on the proofs for tawassul (asking from Allah Ta’ala in the name of a Nabi or Pious soul) here.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

Answered by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar