Question
Is this narration sahih?
Sayyiduna ‘Umar Ibn Khattab (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said: “When you see a Scholar having love for the world, then be suspicious of him. A man will become engrossed in something he loves.”
Answer
Imam Ghazali (rahimahullah) has cited this statement of Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) without chain of narrators.
(Ihya ‘Ulumid Din, vol. 1, pg. 225, Ithafus Sadah Al Muttaqin, vol. 1, pg. 357)
Hafiz Ibn ‘Abdil Barr (rahimahullah) has also cited a similar narration as the statement of Ja’far ibn Muhammad (rahimahullah), without a chain.
(Jami’u Bayanil ‘Ilmi Wa Fadlihi, 1174)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar