Question

There is a narration regarding backbiting giving a foul odor like a corpse. Is this Hadith authentic?

 

Answer

Sayyiduna Jabir ibn ‘Abdillah says, “We were once with Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and we could smell a foul corpse/stench. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) asked, ‘Do you know what smells like this? This is the stench of those who backbite the Believers”

(Musnad Ahmad, vol. 3, pg. 351 and Al Adabul Mufrad of Imam Bukhari, Hadith: 732)

‘Allamah Mundhiri and ‘Allamah Haythami (rahimahumallah) have declared the narrators of Musnad Ahmad reliable.

(Targhib, vol. 3, pg. 511 and Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 8, pg. 91)

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar