Question
Is the following narration suitable to quote?
عن عبد الله بن حوالة الأزدي، أنه قال: يا رسول الله خر لي بلدا أكون فيه فلو علمت أنك تبقى لم اختر على قربك قال: عليك بالشام ثلاثا. فلما رأى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كراهيته إياها قال: هل تدري ما يقول الله في الشام إن الله يقول: يا شام أنت صفوتي من بلادي أدخل فيك خيرتي من عبادي
Answer
Imam Tabarani (rahimahullah) has recorded this Hadith with two chains. ‘Allamah Mundhiri and ‘Allamah Haythami (rahimahumallah) have authenticated one of these chains. (رواه الطبراني من طريقين إحداهما جيدة/رواه الطبراني من طريقين، ورجال أحدهما رجال الصحيح غير صالح بن رستم، وهو ثقة)
The Hadith is therefore suitable to quote.
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Hawalah al-Azdi (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that he once said: “O Rasulullah! Choose for me a place where I should stay, for if I were to know that you would remain I would not have preferred any place over you.” He said: “Go to Sham!” (He said this thrice). When Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) saw [my] indifference towards this, he said: “Do you know what Allah says regarding Sham? Verily, Allah says, “O Sham! You are my chosen land and I shall make the best of my servants enter you.”
(Musnadush Shamiyyin, Hadith: 601, Al Mu’jamul Kabir; Refer: Targhib, vol. 4, pg. 60 and Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 10, pg. 58. Also see: Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 2475)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar