Question # 304: I received a message on whatsapp about the following hadith: “A traveler once came to the masjid to see the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) after greeting the Prophet (S.A.W), he was asked where he was from. The traveler replied that he came from very far just to get a few questions answered. Following is the dialogue between the traveler and the Prophet (S.A.W). Traveler: I do not want punishments to be written in my account; Prophet: Behave well with your parents; Traveler: I want to be known amongst people as an intelligent person. Prophet: Fear Allah (Jalla Jalalu), always…” (long list of questions) and so on. Is this hadith authentic since it’s a forwarded message with no reference?

Bismi-llahi r-raḥmani r-raḥīm,

Assalamu ‘laikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

All praise and thanks are due to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم).

Dear questioner,

First of all, we implore Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) to help us serve His cause and render our work for His sake.

Shorter Answer: No sound isnaad (chain of narration) is known for this report. What appears to be the case is that it is a collection and compilation of the meanings of several well-known ahadith and reports. This report is similar to the fabricated report that is widely circulated among people – perhaps it is the same report, but some of the phrases have been changed. Since the hadith mentioned here is fabricated and its narrators are ignorant people without sound (sahih) isnaad, this text cannot be relied upon or quoted as evidence. We should always remember that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Whoever tells a lie on me intentionally, will surely take his place in the (Hell) Fire.”

Long Answer: No sound chain of narration is known for this report. What appears to be the case is that it is a collection and compilation of the meanings of several well-known ahadith and reports. This report is similar to the fabricated report that is widely circulated among people – perhaps it is the same report, but some of the phrases have been changed because of the many narrations that it has undergone.

This report says: “It was narrated that Khaalid ibn al-Waleed said: A Bedouin came to the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) and said: O Messenger of Allah, I have come to ask you what I need of things that will benefit me this world and the hereafter. The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Ask whatever you like.” He said: I want to be the most knowledgeable of people. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Fear Allah; you will be the most knowledgeable of people.” He said: I want to be the wealthiest of people. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Be content; you will be the wealthiest of people.” He said: I want to be the most special of people to Allah. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Remember Allah a great deal; you will be the most special of people to Allah.” He said: I want to perfect my faith. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Make your attitude good; you will perfect your faith.” He said: I want to be among the doers of good. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not see Him, He sees you.” He said I want to be among the obedient. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Fulfil the obligatory duties towards Allah; you will be among the obedient.” He said: I want to meet Allah free of sin. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Do ghusl following janaabah; you will meet Allah free of sin.” He said: I want to be gathered on the Day of Resurrection in light. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Do not wrong yourself and do not wrong other people; you will be gathered on the Day of Resurrection in light.” He said: I want my Lord to show mercy to me on the Day of Resurrection. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Show mercy to yourself and show mercy to the creation of Allah; your Lord will show you mercy on the Day of Resurrection” … It is a lengthy story.

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about it and he replied: “This hadith was narrated in Kanz al-‘Ummaal in a different version from that which is mentioned here. Its text, as it is narrated in the 16th section [?] of Kanz al-‘Ummal (no. 44154) is as follows:

Shaykh Jalaal ad-Deen as-Suyooti (may Allah have mercy on him) said: I found written in the handwriting of Shaykh Shams ad-Deen ibn al-Qammaah, in a collection of his, a report narrated from Abu’l-‘Abbas al-Mustaghfiri, who said: I went to Egypt, intending to seek knowledge from Imam Abu Haamid al-Misri, and I asked him about the hadith of Khaalid ibn al-Waleed. He instructed me to fast for one year, then I asked him about it again, and he told me, with his isnaad from his shaykhs going back to Khaalid ibn al-Waleed, who said: A man came to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) and said: I am going to ask you about matters of this world and the hereafter. He said: “Ask about whatever you like.” He said: O Prophet of Allah [same as above mentioned hadith] …He said I want my sins to be less. He said: “Seek the forgiveness of Allah; your sins will be less.” He said: I want to be the noblest of the people. He said: “Do not complain about Allah to the people; you will be the noblest of people.” He said I want to be granted abundant provision. He said: “Remain in a state of purity; you will be granted abundant provision.” He said: I want to be among the beloved of Allah and His Messenger. He said: “Love, what Allah and His Messenger love, and hate, what Allah and His Messenger hate.” He said: I want to be safe from the wrath of Allah. He said: “Do not get angry with anyone; you will be safe from the anger and wrath of Allah.” He said: I want my supplication to be answered. He said: “Avoid what is haraam; your supplication will be answered.” He said: I want that Allah should not expose me to shame before the witnesses. He said: “Guard your chastity lest you be exposed to shame before the witnesses.” He said: I want Allah to conceal my faults. He said: “Conceal the faults of your brothers; Allah will conceal your faults.” He said: What will ward off the wrath of the Most Merciful? He said: “Concealing your charity and upholding ties of kinship.” He said: What will extinguish the fire of Hell? He said: “Fasting.” (From Kanz al-Ummaal: p. 127-129)

The hadith mentioned here is fabricated and its narrators are ignorant people. It is as if the one who fabricated it compiled its text from several sahih ahadith and the words of some scholars. Some of its phrases are objectionable and are not in harmony with shar‘i evidence. Undoubtedly, the parts of this hadith that are sound can be found in some sound ahadith. However, this text cannot be relied upon or quoted as evidence, because it does not have any sound (sahih) isnaad. And Allah is the source of strength. (Majmoo‘ Fataawa ash-Shaykh Ibn Baaz)

(The above reply is based on answer provided by Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Munajjid on the topic)

One should be extremely careful when attributing something to the Noble Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) and attribute nothing unto him (صلى الله عليه و سلم) save the Truth:

  • Narrated by Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (رضي الله عنه): “Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: He who intentionally attributes any falsehood to me, he should in fact find his abode in the Hell-Fire!” (Sahih Muslim)
  • Narrated by Abdullah bin Amr (رضي الله عنه): “The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: Whoever tells a lie on me intentionally, will surely take his place in the (Hell) Fire.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
  • Narrated by Salama (رضي الله عنها): “I heard the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) saying, “Whoever (intentionally) ascribes to me what I have not said then (surely) let him occupy his seat in Hell-fire.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
  • Narrated by Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه): ‘The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said, “Whoever intentionally ascribes something to me falsely, he will surely take his place in the (Hell) Fire.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

Attributing something to the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) is not like attributing something to one amongst us. For each and everything the Noble Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said or did or allowed is a law, and an example for the believers to follow until the end of time and those who invent something from themselves and attribute it to the Noble Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) will have a grievous penalty indeed. (Islamhelpline.net)

Allahu A’lam (Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) knows best) and all Perfections belong to Allah, and all mistakes belong to me alone. May Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) forgive me, Ameen.

Wassalaam