Question

Is the following narration authentic?

Sayyiduna Rifa’ah ibn Rafi’ (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) once instructed Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu):

“Gather my people!’ Sayyiduna ‘Umar gathered them outside the room of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and then went in and asked, ‘O Rasulullah, should I get them to enter or shall you be going out to them?’

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) replied,

‘I shall rather go to them.’ When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) went to them, he asked ‘Is there anyone here who does not belong to you?’ ‘Yes, they replied. Amongst us are also our allies, the children of our sisters and our slaves’. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said to them, ‘Our allies are part of us, the children of our sisters are part of us and our slaves are all part of us. Have you not heard (the Quranic verse) that it is only those with Taqwa who are Allah’s friends? If you are His (Allah’s) friends, then it is excellent. Otherwise, you should give the matter deep thought. It should not be that other people arrive on the day of Judgement with plenty of good deeds while you arrive there with sins, because of which I will have to turn away from you.’

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) then raised his hands and said, ‘O people! The Quraysh are trustworthy people. Allah will therefore grab by the nostrils the person who searches for their faults and throw him into the Fire of Jahannam.’ Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) repeated this thrice.”

Answer

The Hadith in question is recorded in Musnad Al Bazzar. Imam Bazzar (rahimahullah) has declared the Hadith as sound (hasan). Hafiz Haythami (rahimahullah) has also declared the Hadith as sound.

(Refer: Kashful Astar, vol. 3, pg. 294 and Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 10, pg. 26)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar