Question

Is this narration authentic?

يا علي لأن يهدي الله بك رجلاً واحداً خير لك مما طلعت عليه الشمس وخير لك من حمر النعم، وخير لك من الدنيا وما فيها

O ‘Ali, that Allah guide one man through you is better for you than having red camels and better for you than the entire world and whatever it contains.

 

Answer

This seems to be a combination of the following Hadiths:

1) Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) told Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu):

 فوالله لأن يهدي الله بك رجلا خير لك من أن يكون لك حمر النعم

By Allah, that Allah guide one man through you is better for you than having than red camels [Red camels were among the most precious form of wealth among the Arabs].

(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 3009-3701-4210, Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2406)

2) Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) told Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu):

لأن يهدي الله عز وجل على يديك رجلا خير لك مما طلعت عليه الشمس وغربت

That Allah guide one man through you is better for you than all that the sun rises and sets over

(Al Mu’jamul Kabir, Hadith: 930, Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 3, pg. 598, Refer: Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 5, pg. 334)

3) Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) told Sayyiduna Mu’adh (radiyallahu ‘anhu) before dispatching him to Yemen:

لأن يهدي الله بك رجلا واحدا، خير لك من الدنيا وما فيها

That Allah guide one man through you is better for you than the entire world and whatever it contains.

(Az Zuhd War Raqaiq of Imam ‘Abdullah ibn Al Mubarak, Hadith: 1375)

This version is also suitable to quote.

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar