Question
Is the following Hadith authentic (the Arabic and the English translation):
On the authority of Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu), who says that I have heard Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) saying:
Allah Ta’ala says when my slave recites “Ar Rahmanir Rahim” (The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful) I say “Athna ‘alayya abdi” (My slave has praised Me through My beautiful names and attributes).
Answer
Imam Muslim (rahimahullah) has recorded the narration in question. The Hadith is therefore authentic.
The full narration is as follows:
Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu’anhu) says: I heard Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) say, ‘Allah Ta’ala said’:
“I have divided Salah [Surah Fatihah] between myself and between my servant in two halves and my servant shall have what he asks for.
So when a person says,
‘Al Hamdulillahi Rabbil ‘Alamin’ (All praise belongs to Allah, the Rabb of the universe),
Allah Ta’ala says,
‘Hamidani ‘abdi’ (My Servant has praised me).
When he says
‘Ar Rahmanir Rahim’ (The Most Compassionate the Most Merciful)
Allah Ta’ala says,
‘Athna ‘alayya ‘abdi’ (My servant has extolled me)
When he says,
‘Maliki Yawmid Din’ (The Master of the Day of Judgement)
Allah Ta’ala says,
‘Majjadani ‘abdi’ (My servant has glorified me)
When he says,
‘Iyyaka Na’budu Wa Iyyaka Nasta’in’ (You Alone do we worship and You Alone do we ask for help)
Allah Ta’ala says,
‘Hadha bayni wa bayna ‘abdi wa li ‘abdi ma sa-ala’ (This is between me and my slave and me servant will have what he asks for)
When he says,
‘Ihdinas Siratal Mustaqim. Siratal Ladhina An ‘Amta ‘Alayhim Ghayril Maghdubi ‘Alayhim Wa Lad- Dallin’ (Guide us to the straight path. The path of those whom You have favored and not the path of those with whom You are angry nor the path of those who have gone astray)
Allah Ta’ala says,
‘Hadha li ‘abdi wa li ‘abdi ma sa-ala’ (This is for my servant and my servant shall have what he asks for)
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 395)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar