Question

I want to know the exact wording and the authenticity of the hadith listed below.

“Wisdom (sometimes “Wisdom” is replaced by “A wise statement”) is the lost property of the believer, so wherever he finds it, then he is the most worthy of it.”

 

Answer

Imams Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah (rahimahumullah) and other Muhaddithun have recorded this narration.

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reported that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The wise statement is the lost property of the believer, so wherever he finds it, then he is more worthy of it.”

(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 2687, Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 4169)

 

Imam Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) has declared the Hadith weak (gharib).

(Also see: Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 26101 and 36831, Al Maqasidul Hasanah, Hadith: 415 and Al Mudawi, Hadith: 2600)

 

This Hadith explains that a believer is constantly on the look out for a wise statement just as he would search for his lost property. As soon as he stumbles across some wisdom, he should immediately put it to practice [before worrying about applying it to others].

(Faydul Qadir, Hadith: 6462, At Taysir, vol. 2 pg. 227)

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

 

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar