Question

Please confirm the reference of the following statement and if it is a Hadith or a statement of a Sahabi/the pious?

“The one who does not fear Allah, fears everything, and the one who fears Allah, everybody fears him.”

 

Answer

The following has been reported as a Hadith of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) on the authority of Sayyiduna Wathilah ibnul Asqa’ (radiyallahu ‘anhu):

“Whomsoever fears Allah ‘Azza wa Jalla, Allah will cause everything to be afraid of him and whoever does not fear Allah, Allah will cause him to fear everything.”

(Kitabuth Thawab of Abush Shaykh; Refer: Targhib, vol. 4, pg. 267)

However, ‘Allamah Mundhiri (rahimahullah) has stated that the attribution to Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is unreliable (رفعه منكر).

(Targhib, vol. 4, pg. 267. Also see: Shu’abul Iman, after Hadith: 946)

Imam Abu Nu’aym (rahimahullah) has also recorded this narration as a Hadith of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) on the authority of Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu). However, he too has expressed some reservation.

(هذا حديث غريب لم يروه مرفوعا مسندا إلا العترة الطيبة، خلفها عن سلفها، وما كتبناه إلا عن هذا الشيخ)

(Hilyatul Awliya, vol. 3, pg. 191)

The meaning of this narration is correct and has also been reported as the statement of ‘Umar ibn ‘Abdil ‘Aziz, Fudayl ibn ‘Iyad (rahimahumallah) and other pious predecessors. It should therefore be quoted as the statement of these pious predecessors and not as a Hadith of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).

(Refer: Shu’abul Iman: 943, 944, 945, 946, 6849 and Al Maqasidul Hasanah, Hadith: 1119)

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar