Question

The Hadith:

  علماء أمتي كأنبياء بني إسرائيل 

Translation: The scholars of my ummah are like the Prophets of Bani Israel

I have read this Hadith is a fabrication (mawdu’), but some say its not such because Imam Shadhili (rahimahullah) had a dream in which he saw the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) along with other Prophets (‘alayhimus salam). Sayyidina Musa (‘alayhis salam) said to the the the Prophet, Imam al Ambiya, the leader of the mankind and the Jinn (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam): “You have said that the scholars of my ummah are like the Prophets of Bani Israel”, so (please) show me one such scholar. The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) pointed towards Imam Ghazali (rahimahullah) and said “Him”

Please comment.

 

Answer

This Hadith has been classified as a fabrication by senior Muhaddithun of the Ummah; like Imam Zarkashi, Hafiz Ibn Hajar, ‘Allamah Sakhawi, Mulla ‘Ali Qari and others (rahimahumullah).

(Al-Maqasidul Hasanah, Hadith: 702 and Al-Masnu’ of Mulla ‘Ali Qari, Hadith: 196)

 

Dreams are not credible supports in such issues.

(See: footnotes of Shaykh ‘Abdul Fattah Abu Ghuddah (rahimahullah) on Al-Masnu’, pgs. 215-217 and 273)

 

Note: There are numerous other excellent virtues for the ‘Ulama that are mentioned in the Quran and Hadith which may be quoted instead.

Some ‘Ulama have explained the similarities between the ‘Ulama of this Ummah with the Ambiya of the Banu Israel. This may be correct, but should not be quoted as a Hadith.

Lastly, its obvious that being similar doesn’t necessitate equality. No ‘non Nabi’ can ever be equal to a real Nabi.

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

 

Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

 

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar