Question
What is the source of this narration?
رأيت ليلة أسري بي رجالا تقرض شفاههم بمقاريض من نار فقلت يا جبريل من هؤلاء قال هؤلاء خطباء من أمتك يأمرون الناس بالبر وينسون أنفسهم وهم يتلون الكتاب أفلا يعقلون
Answer
Imam Ahmad (rahimahullah) has recorded this Hadith on the authority of Sayyiduna Anas (radiyallahu ‘anhu). Imam Ibn Hibban (rahimahullah) has declared the Hadith authentic.
(Musnad Ahmad, vol. 3 pg. 239/240, Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 53)
Translation
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “On the night of Mi’raj I saw men whose lips were being cut with scissors made of fire. I asked Jibril, ‘Who are these people’? He replied, ‘These are the orators of your ummah who command people to do good but forget about their own selves whereas they read the Quran, Don’t they understand?'”
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar