Warning from attributing a lie or sharing unverified information about Islam

Allah, the Most High said:

And if he (Muhammad) had forged a false saying concerning Us (Allaah),We surely would have seized him by his right hand (or with power and might),  And then We certainly would have cut off his life artery (aorta),And none of you could have withheld Us from (punishing) him” [al-Haaqqah 69:44-47] 

If this is how allah would punish  muhammad s.a.w for lying against him , then what about others? 

"Verily, it is indeed Satan that makes you do evil and say things about Allah (or His deen) of which you have no proper knowledge  [Al-Baqarah 2:169]

"And follow not, (O man i.e. do not say, act or witness) that of which you have no knowledge. Verily! The hearing, and the sight and the heart for each of those will you be questioned " [Al-Israa 17: 36]

And He, the Mighty also warns us not to speak about Him without knowledge:

"Say (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)): indeed the things that my Lord has forbidden are: (and from them is) saying things about Allah of which you have no knowledge". [Al - A' araaf 7:33]

In Surah 17, Allah warns the prophet as well

73:-And indeed, they were about to tempt you away from that which We revealed to you in order to [make] you invent about Us something else; and then they would have taken you as a friend.

74:- And if We had not strengthened you, you would have almost inclined to them a little.

75:- Then [if you had], We would have made you taste double [punishment in] life and double [after] death. Then you would not find for yourself against Us a helper.

These powerful verses shake a believer when he reads them . It shows explicitly the warning for speaking against Islamic shar`iah, Allah , his deen or his messengers, so as to avail a favour from them (the kuffar), either for their throne, or for their businesses, or for their riches and luxury, job and fame or etc. Inventing A lie against Allah and his deen is as severe as this that Allah (s.w.t) even warned our beloved prophet (s.a.w) so sternly. Double will be the punishment of those orators, khateeb's, mawlana's, rulers, businessmen, etc who invent a lie against this deen so as to have the favour from the kuffar. What a dangerous warning Indeed for those modernists and munafiqeen who openly proclaim how such and such is not from the deen, how this verse of women inheritance is wrongly understood, how this is not islam and that is islam. Allahu must`an.

{and follow not the footsteps of Shaitaan (Satan). Verily, he is to you an open enemy.  He commands you only what is Soo’ (evil) and Fahshaa’, and that you should say against Allaah what you know not.} [Surah al-Baqarah (2): 168-169]

Allah said : "The son of Aadam tells a lie against me though he has no right to do so,...." [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree]  

Warning from the Prophet (s.a.w) and our salaf 

وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ طَاوُسٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ، قَالَ إِنَّ فِي الْبَحْرِ شَيَاطِينَ مَسْجُونَةً أَوْثَقَهَا سُلَيْمَانُ يُوشِكُ أَنْ تَخْرُجَ فَتَقْرَأَ عَلَى النَّاسِ قُرْآنًا ‏.‏

Muhammad bin Rāfi’ narrated to me, Abd ur-Razzāq narrated to us, Ma’mar informed us, on authority of Ibn Tāwus, on authority of his father, on authority Abd Allah bin Amr bin al-Ās, he said:

‘Indeed in the sea are devils chained up, whom Sulaymān shackled and they are at the point of emerging. Then they will recite a Qur’ān upon the people.’

[Ref: Muqaddamah Saheeh Muslim 18] 

وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الأَشَجُّ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ بْنِ رَافِعٍ، عَنْ عَامِرِ بْنِ عَبَدَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَيَتَمَثَّلُ فِي صُورَةِ الرَّجُلِ فَيَأْتِي الْقَوْمَ فَيُحَدِّثُهُمْ بِالْحَدِيثِ مِنَ الْكَذِبِ فَيَتَفَرَّقُونَ فَيَقُولُ الرَّجُلُ مِنْهُمْ سَمِعْتُ رَجُلاً أَعْرِفُ وَجْهَهُ وَلاَ أَدْرِي مَا اسْمُهُ يُحَدِّثُ ‏.‏

Abū Sa’īd al-Ashajj narrated to me, Wakī’ narrated to us, al-A’mash narrated to us, on authority of al-Musayyab bin Rāfi’, on authority of Āmir bin Abdah, he said, Abd Allah [bin Mas’ūd] said:

‘Indeed Satan will appear in the form of a man and he will come to the people, narrating to them false Ḥadīth, and they will then depart. Then a man among them will say: ‘I heard a man whose face I recognize but I do not know his name narrating [such and such]…’

[Ref: Muqaddamah Muslim 17]

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ، قَالَ : " إنَّكُمْ فِي زَمَانٍ كَثِيرٌ عُلَمَاؤُهُ , قَلِيلٌ خُطَبَاؤُهُ ، وَإنَّ بَعْدَكُمْ زَمَانًا كَثِيرٌ خُطَبَاؤُهُ , وَالْعُلَمَاءُ فِيهِ قَلِيلٌ


`Abdullaah [Ibn Mas`ood] that he said: “Verily, you are in a time in which there are many scholars and few speakers (Khutaba). And verily after you, there will come a time in which there will be many speakers (many khateeb), while the (actual) scholars in it will be few.”

[Ref: Kitaab al-`Ilm of Abi Khaithama an-Nasa`ee (109); This narration in mawqoof form (saying of a companion only) has an authentic chain. Its narrators are all
narrators of the category of the two Saheeh collections, except for 'Abdullaah Ibn Yazeed As-Sahbaanee. However, he is trustworthy and his biography occurs in Al-Jarh wat-Ta`deel]

The prophet (sallalahu `alayhi wa sallam) said :

أخوف ما أخاف على أمتي كل منافق عليم اللسان

“Most frightening is what I fear for my Ummah from every eloquent hypocrite " [1]

أخرجه أحمد (1/22 ، رقم 143) ، والبزار (1/434 ، رقم 305) . قال الهيثمى (1/187) : رواه البزار ، وأحمد ، وأبو يعلى ، ورجاله موثقون

[1] i.e every charming speaker or khateeb who in actuality is a deviated individual. E.g Tahir ul-Qaadri or many of the Sufis and barelvi scholars who know how to sing, dance, and speak but when it comes to knowledge they are the worst of creatures who maipulate and misguide the common folks.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,

“There will appear in the later days men who confuse the world with the religion. They will appear harmless as lambs, with words sweet as honey, but they will have the heart of a wolf. Allah will say: They want to deceive me? They want to defy me? I swear by Myself, I will send a tribulation upon them that will cripple the most forbearing among them.”

[Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2404;  Da`eef]


 عَنْ أَنَسٍ ، قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : " أَتَيْتُ عَلَى سَمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا لَيْلَةَ أُسْرِيَ بِي ، فَرَأَيْتُ فِيهَا رِجَالا تُقْطَعُ أَلْسِنَتُهُمْ وِشِفَاهُهُمْ بِمَقَارِيضَ مِنْ نَارٍ ، فَقُلْتُ : يَا جِبْرِيلُ ، مَا هَؤُلاءِ ؟ ، قَالَ : هَؤُلاءِ خُطَبَاءُ مِنْ أُمَّتِكَ " .


Anas (radhiallahu anhu) narrates that the Prophet (sallalahu `alayhi wa sallam) said : “ When I ascended to the heavenly world on the night of Israa I saw people whose tongues and lips were being cut by the knife of fire (so) I asked Jibrael (`alayhis salaam) who are they? Jibrael (`alayhis salaam) answered “they are the (deviant, lying, treacherous to the deen) khutaba (singular : khateeb or speaker/orators) of your Ummah” 

[Ref: Musnad Abu Y`ala (4069 – 7/118) and (4160 -7/180) Saheeh by Muhaddith Hussain Salem Asad ]

There is another hadeeth with the addition of :


3992 - حدثنا هدبة بن خالد حدثنا حماد حدثنا علي بن زيد عن أنس بن مالك : أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم قال : أتيت ليلة أسري بي على رجال تقرض شفاههم بمقاريض من نار قلت : من هؤلاء يا جبريل ؟ قال : هؤلاء خطباء أمتك يأمرون الناس بالبر و ينسون أنفسهم و هم يتلون الكتاب أفلا يعقلون ؟


[rough translation] …. They are the speakers of your Ummah who used to enjoin virtue upon people but refrained to implement it on themselves and they studied the book (of Allah) (so) didn’t they have any sense?

[Ref: Musnad abi Ya`la, 3992 (7/69) and 3996 (7/72); this addition of Musnad Abi Ya`la is Da`eef but has also been reported in Musnad `Abdullah ibn Mubarak, under the book of العلم, hadeeth no. 27 via another route the authenticity of which I haven’t verified yet but the implication of this hadeeth is understood and proven from other ahadeeth and Qur`anic verses as understood by the people of knowledge. Because the khutaba do study Islamic literature but many of them either do not practise what they preach or fall prey to desires and thus deviate the masses from the right path or right understanding of knowledge. Example the modern day Sufis ]

The prophet (s.a.w) said : "He who reports from me, then let him not say anything, except that which is true.  So he who attributes to me that which I did not say, then let him take his place in the Fire 

[Saheeh: Related by Ibn Maajah (no. 35), at-Tahaawee in al-Mushkilul-Aathaar (1/172) and others.  It was authenticated by al-Albaanee in as-Saheehah (no. 1753). ]

 The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Telling lies about me is not like telling lies about anyone else. Whoever tells lies about me deliberately let him take his place in Hell.” 

[Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1229. It was also narrated by Muslim in the introduction to his Saheeh collection.] 

وَلأَحْمَدَ وَالْحَارِثِ بْنِ أَبِي أُسَامَةَ وَالْبَزَّارِ وَالطَّبَرَانِيِّ وَالْحَاكِمِ فِي ((الْمَدْخَلِ)) ]] ]] ]] ] عَنِ يَحْيَى بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ أَنَّ أَبَا مُوسَى الْغَافَقِيَّ سَمِعَ عُقْبَةَ بْنَ عَامِرٍ الْجُهَنِيَّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ يُحَدِّثُ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ عَنْ رَسُول الله أَحَادِيثَ فَقَالَ أَبُو مُوسَى رَضِيَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهُ

Ahmad, al-Harith ibn Abi Usamah, al-Bazzar, al-Tabrani and al-Hakim in al-Madkhal [narrated] from Yahya ibn Maymun al-Hadrami that Abu Musa al-Ghafiqi heard ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Amir al-Juhani (Allah be pleased with him) narrating hadiths from Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) on the pulpit, and Abu Musa (Allah be pleased with him) said (remarking upon so many narration of uqbah bin amir),

إِنَّ صَاحِبَكُمْ هَذَا لَحَافِظٌ أَوْ هَالِكٌ أَنَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلاةُ وَالسَّلامُ كَانَ آخِرَ مَا عَهِدَهُ إِلَيْنَا أَنْ قَالَ: ((عَلَيْكُمْ بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَسَتَرْجِعُونَ إِلَى قَوْمٍ يُحِبُّونَ الْحَدِيثَ عَنِّي فَمَنْ قَالَ عَلَيَّ مَا لَمْ أَقُلْ فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ وَمَنْ حَفِظَ شَيْئًا فَلْيُحَدِّثْ بِهِ))

Rough Translation 

 “Verily, this companion of yours has preserved [the ahadeeth] or is destroyed; indeed the last thing he alayhi salatu was salaam entrusted unto us was that he said, ‘Hold to the Book of Allah, and you will REFER TO A PEOPLE who love to NARRATE FROM ME, so whoever ascribes to me what I have not said [e.g extremely weak and fabricated stories or ahadeeth], let him take his seat in the Fire, and whoever preserves a thing, let him narrate it.’” 


[Ref:  : الآثار المرفوعة في الأخبار الموضوع of Shaykh Abdul Hayy lakhnawi rahimahullah page 25] 

وَلِلْطَبَرَانِيِّ فِي الأَوْسَطِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بن عَمْرو رَضِيَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهُ إِنَّ رَجُلا لَبِسَ حُلَّةً مِثْلَ حُلَّةِ النَّبِي ثُمَّ أَتَى أَهْلَ بَيْتٍ مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ فَقَالَ: إِنَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلاةُ وَالسَّلامُ أَمَرَنِي أَيَّ أَهْلِ بَيْتٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ شِئْتُ اسْتَطْلَعْتُ فَأَعَدُّوا لَهُ بَيْتًا وَأَرْسَلُوا رَسُولا إِلَى رَسُول الله فَأَخْبِرُوهُ فَقَالَ لأَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهُمَا: انْطَلِقَا إِلَيْهِ فَإِنْ وَجَدْتُمَاهُ فَاقْتِلاهُ ثُمَّ حَرِّقَاهُ بِالنَّارِ وَإِنْ وَجَدْتُمَاهُ قَدْ كُفِيتُمَاهُ وَلا أَرَاكُمَا إِلا وَقَدْ كُفِيتُمَاهُ فَحَرِّقَاهُ بِالنَّارِ)) ]] ]] ]] ] فَأَتَيَاهُ فَوَجَدَاهُ قَدْ خَرَجَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ يَبُولُ فَلَدَغَتْهُ حَيَّةٌ أَفْعَى فَمَاتَ فَحَرَّقَاهُ بالنَّار، ثمَّ رجعا إِلَيْهِ فَأَخْبَرَاهُ، فَقَالَ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلاةُ وَالسَّلامُ: ((من كذب عَليّ مُتَعَمدا فَليَتَبَوَّأ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ))


Al-Tabrani [narrated] in al-Awsat from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr (Allah Exalted is He be pleased with him) that a man wore a dress resembling the dress of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), then he came to a household in Madinah and said, “Verily, he (upon him blessings and peace) commanded me to survey whichever household I wish from the residents of Madinah.” They then prepared accommodation for him and sent a messenger to the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and informed him. He said to Abu Bakr and ‘Umar (Allah Exalted is He be pleased with them), “Go to him and if you find him, kill him, then burn him with fire, and if you find him and you have been spared this [task] [because he is already dead], and I do not believe but the two of you will be spared this [task], then burn him with Fire.” Thereupon, they came to him and found him having come out in the night to urinate, when a snake bit him and he died, so they burned him with fire. Then they returned to him (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and informed him and he (upon him blessings and peace) said, “Whoever lies upon me, let him take his seat in the Fire.”

[Ref:  : الآثار المرفوعة في الأخبار الموضوع of Shaykh Abdul Hayy lakhnawi rahimahullah page 26] 

وَلِلْطَبَرَانِيِّ فِي الأَوْسَطِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بن عَمْرو رَضِيَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهُ إِنَّ رَجُلا لَبِسَ حُلَّةً مِثْلَ حُلَّةِ النَّبِي ثُمَّ أَتَى أَهْلَ بَيْتٍ مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ فَقَالَ: إِنَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلاةُ وَالسَّلامُ أَمَرَنِي أَيَّ أَهْلِ بَيْتٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ شِئْتُ اسْتَطْلَعْتُ فَأَعَدُّوا لَهُ بَيْتًا وَأَرْسَلُوا رَسُولا إِلَى رَسُول الله فَأَخْبِرُوهُ فَقَالَ لأَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهُمَا: انْطَلِقَا إِلَيْهِ فَإِنْ وَجَدْتُمَاهُ فَاقْتِلاهُ ثُمَّ حَرِّقَاهُ بِالنَّارِ وَإِنْ وَجَدْتُمَاهُ قَدْ كُفِيتُمَاهُ وَلا أَرَاكُمَا إِلا وَقَدْ كُفِيتُمَاهُ فَحَرِّقَاهُ بِالنَّارِ)) ]] ]] ]] ] فَأَتَيَاهُ فَوَجَدَاهُ قَدْ خَرَجَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ يَبُولُ فَلَدَغَتْهُ حَيَّةٌ أَفْعَى فَمَاتَ فَحَرَّقَاهُ بالنَّار، ثمَّ رجعا إِلَيْهِ فَأَخْبَرَاهُ، فَقَالَ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلاةُ وَالسَّلامُ: ((من كذب عَليّ مُتَعَمدا فَليَتَبَوَّأ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ))

Al-Tabraani [narrated] in al-Awsat from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr (radhiallahu `anhu) that a man wore a dress resembling the dress of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), then he came to a household in Madinah and said, “Verily, he (upon him blessings and peace) commanded me to survey whichever household I wish from the residents of Madeenah.” They then prepared accommodation for him and sent a messenger to the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and informed him. He said to Abu Bakr and ‘Umar (Allah Exalted is He be pleased with them), “Go to him and if you find him, kill him, then burn him with fire, and if you find him and you have been spared this [task] [because he is already dead], and I do not believe but the two of you will be spared this [task], then burn him with Fire.” Thereupon, they came to him and found him having come out in the night to urinate, when a snake bit him and he died, so they burned him with fire. Then they returned to him (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and informed him and he (upon him blessings and peace) said, “Whoever lies upon me, let him take his seat in the Fire.”

[Ref: : الآثار المرفوعة في الأخبار الموضوع of Shaykh Abdul Hayy lakhnawi rahimahullah page 26] 

this hadeeth has been mentioned via a different chain in tabraani. However, ibn `adi in al-Kaamil also narrates a similar version via burayda radhiallahu `anhu instead of `Amr r.a (mentioned in the same page i.e page 26 as above) , but even that is weak. 

Al-Mu`allami in Anwaar al-Kashf (273) said this is munkar ; imam adh-dhahabi in Meezan al-`Itidaal (2/293) said Munkar due to صالح بن حيان ; Ibn al-Mullaqin in Badr al-Muneer (9/206) said weak; likewise Ibn `Adi himself after narrating says it's weak. 


The point to be noted here is that even if this may be weak, but imagine the consequences of someone who lies upon the prophet (sallalahu `alayhi wa sallam) on purpose?


I will mention one more weak narration, not attributing them to the prophet (s.a.w) but to merely show the reader what can happen or could have happened had it been true and to take lessons from it . Continuing from the book of shaykh abdul hayy lucknowi rahimahullah, page 27 onwards 




وَلِلطَّبَرَانِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ بْنِ الْحَنَفِيَّةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: انْطَلَقْتُ مَعَ أَبِي إِلَى صِهْرٍ لَنَا مَنْ أَسْلَمَ من أَصْحَاب النَّبِي فَسَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ يَقُولُ: ((أَرِحْنَا بِهَا يَا بِلالُ)) ]] ]] ]] ] يَعْنِي الصَّلاةَ قُلْتُ: أَسَمِعْتَ ذَا من رَسُول الله، فَغَضِبَ وَأَقْبَلَ يُحَدِّثَهُمْ أَنَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلاةُ وَالسَّلامُ بَعَثَ رَجُلا إِلَى حَيٍّ مِنْ أَحْيَاءِ الْعَرَبِ، فَلَمَّا أَتَاهُمْ قَالَ: أَمَرَنِي عَلَيْهِ الصَّلاةُ وَالسَّلامُ أَنْ أَحْكُمَ فِي نِسَائِكُمْ بِمَا شِئْتُ، فَقَالُوا سَمْعًا وَطَاعَةً لأمر رَسُول الله وَبَعَثُوا رُسُلا إِلَيْهِ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلاةُ وَالسَّلامُ، فَقَالَ: إِنَّ فُلانًا جَاءَنَا فَقَالَ إِن رَسُول الله أَمَرَنِي أَنْ أَحْكُمَ فِي نِسَائِكُمْ فَإِنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِكَ فَسَمْعًا وَطَاعَةً وَإِنْ كَانَ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ فَأَحْبَبْنَا أَنْ نُعْلِمُكَ فَغِضَبَ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلاةُ وَالسَّلامُ، وَبَعَثَ رَجُلا مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ فَقَالَ: اذْهَبْ فَاقْتُلْهُ أَوِ احْرِقْهُ بِالنَّارِ فَانْتَهَى إِلَيْهِ وَقَدْ مَاتَ وَقُبِرَ فَأَمَرَ بِهِ فَنُبِشَ ثُمَّ أَحْرَقَهُ بِالنَّارِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ، قَالَ رَسُول الله: ((من كذب عَليّ مُتَعَمدا فَليَتَبَوَّأ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ)) ]] ]] ]] ] فَقَالَ: ((أَتَرَى إِنِّي كَذِبْتُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ بَعْدَ هَذَا

Al-Tabrani [narrated] from ‘Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah (Allah be pleased with him) [that] he said: I went with my father to an in-law of ours from the Companions of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) who accepted Islam, and I heard him say: I head Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) say “Give us rest by it, i.e. prayer, O Bilal.” I said, “Did you hear that from the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace)?” He then became angry and began narrating to them that he (upon him blessings and peace) sent a man to an Arab suburb and when he came to them, he said, “He (upon him blessings and peace) commanded me to rule over your women however I wish (I.E DO with them whatever he wants).” Thereupon they said, “[We] hear and [we] obey the command of Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace),” and they sent a man to him (upon him blessings and peace) and said, “Indeed so-and-so came to us and said that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) commanded me to rule over your women, so if it is from your command then [we] hear and [we] obey and if it is other than that, we wished to let you know.” Then he (upon him blessings and peace) became angry and sent a man from the Ansar, saying, “Go and kill him or burn him with fire.” He reached him and he had [already] died and was buried, so he ordered that [his body] be exhumed, then he burned him with fire. Then he [the in-law of 'Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah] said: Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Whoever lies upon me deliberately, let him take his seat in the Fire” and he said, “Do you think that I will lie upon the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) after this?”

It was narrated from Ibn Tawus that his father said:

"I heard Ibn 'Abbas saying: 'We used to memorize Ahadith, and Ahadith were memorized from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). But if you go to the extremes of either exaggeration or negligence (in narrating Ahadith), there is no way we can trust your Ahadith.'"

[Ref: Sunan ibn Majah, Book 1 , Saheeh] 

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Whoever narrates a hadith from me that he thinks is false, (then he) is one of the liars.” Narrated by Muslim

Ibn Hibbaan said that everyone who doubts whether what he is relating is authentic or not is included in the apparent meaning of this hadith. [Ad-Du’afa’]

It was narrated that Hafs ibn ‘Aasim said, “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ‘It is enough lying for a man to speak of everything that he hears.’” Narrated by Muslim in al-Muqaddimah, 6; Saheeh al-Jaami, 4482.

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “It is enough sin for a man to speak of everything that he hears.” Al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 2025.

Al-Nawawi said, “Usually a person hears truth and lies, so if he speaks of everything that he hears, he is lying by telling of things that did not happen, and lying by speaking of something other than the way it happened; and he does not have to do that deliberately (in order to be regarded as telling lies).”

Ibn Hibbaan stated that this hadith contains a warning to the person against relating everything that he hearsuntil he knows for certain that it is authentic.

Al-Nawawi also stated that whoever does not know the weakness of the hadith then it is not permissible for him to go ahead and quote it as evidence without researching (its authenticity) if he knows (how to do so) or by asking the people of knowledge (scholars) if he does not know.

Abdullah Ibnul-Mubaarak (d.181H) (rahimahullah) said, “The authentic ahaadeeth are sufficient and the weak ahaadeeth are not needed.” (al-Jaami’ li-Aklaaqir-Raawee (2/159) of as-Suyootee).

عن ابن القيم قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ سَأَلْتُ أَبِي عَنْ الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ عِنْدَهُ الْكُتُبُ الْمُصَنَّفَةُ فِيهَا قَوْلُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَالصَّحَابَةِ وَالتَّابِعِينَ وَلَيْسَ لِلرَّجُلِ بَصَرٌ بِالْحَدِيثِ الضَّعِيفِ الْمَتْرُوكِ وَلَا الْإِسْنَادِ الْقَوِيِّ مِنْ الضَّعِيفِ فَيَجُوزُ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ بِمَا شَاءَ وَيَتَخَيَّرُ مِنْهَا فَيُفْتِي بِهِ وَيَعْمَلُ بِهِ قَالَ لَا يَعْمَلُ حَتَّى يَسْأَلَ مَا يُؤْخَذُ بِهِ مِنْهَا فَيَكُونُ يَعْمَلُ عَلَى أَمْرٍ صَحِيحٍ يَسْأَلُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ أَهْلَ الْعِلْمِ

Ibn Al-Qayyim reported: Abdullah ibn Ahmad said, “I asked my father about a man who has books within which are the sayings of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and the companions and the followers, but he cannot recognize weak and rejected narrations, nor a strong chain of narration from a weak one. Is it permissible for him to act upon whatever he wills, to choose from it, to give judgments by it, and to act according to it?” Ahmad ibn Hanbal said, “He may not act upon it until he asks what may be taken from it so that he acts upon what is correct. He should ask the scholars about it.”

[Ref: I’lam Al-Muwaqi’een 4/158]

Imam dhahabi has quoted  `Ayesha (r.a) as saying

"My father (Abu Bakr) collected (wrote down) around five hundred Ahaadith of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). One night Hadhrat Abu Bakr (RA) was seen turning his sides frequently in his bed. I asked him its reason in the morning, he told me to get all those Ahaadith which he had written, then he asked for fire and burnt that document. I asked him as to why did he do that? He replied, I feared that if I die and this document covering Ahaadith which I have got from others after trusting them, it is possible that what they said would not be like that what I have quoted."

Also in Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Vol 1, pg 4,and Kanz Ul Ummal, Vol 5, pg 237,
al-Hafiz Imam al-Dhahabi (rahimullah) , Tadhkiratul-Huffaz, Vol.1, P.5 said regarding this narration that:- Ali bin Salih is Majhool [Taqrib] - Muhammad Ibn Musa who is not trustworthy [Lisaanul-Mizaan] Musa Ibn Abdullah about him Imam Bukhari :
(rahimullah)  says: "Fihi Nazar (He needs investigation)" .

Anyhow regardless of the authenticity of the report, as mentioned in the text of the narration itself that the burning was due to fear of subscribing something to the Prophet  that may not be true!

Al-Nawawi in Tahdhib al-Asma ' wa al-Lughat (2:181-182) states that we have 142 Prophetic hadiths narrated from Abu Bakr. Al-Suyuti listed them in Tarikh al-Khulafa'.

Moreover, Abu Darda (radhiallahu anhu) used to say out of concern and fear of mixing up or mis-interpreting the ahadeeth :

105 - حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو خَيْثَمَةَ ثنا مَعْنُ، ثنا مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، عَنْ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ، قَالَ: " كَانَ إِذَا حَدَّثَ بِالْحَدِيثِ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ إِلَّا هَكَذَا أَوْ كَشَكْلِهِ "

Abu Khaithama narrated to us, saying: Ma’in reported to us, saying: Mu’awiyah Ibn Saalih reported to us from Rabee' Ibn Yazeed on the authority of Abu Ad-Dardaa (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) that he said: 

"When a hadeeth of the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would be reported, one would say (to himself): 'O Allaah, if it is not (stated) this way [1], then at least make it resemble it.'" [2] 

[Kitaab al-`Ilm lil Abi Khaithama an-Nasa`ee (105)]

[1] If it is not stated exactly word to word or in specific the way it was reported 

[2] then atleast make it's meaning correct or resemble it in a way which does not drift away from the meaning intended by the Prophet (sallalahu `alayhi wa sallam) 



130 - حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو خَيْثَمَةَ ثنا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي حُصَيْنٍ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، " أنَّ عَلِيًّا عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ مَرَّ بِقَاصٍّ فَقَالَ: " أَتَعْرِفُ النَّاسِخَ مِنَ الْمَنْسُوخِ؟ قَالَ: لَا، قَالَ هَلَكْتَ وَأَهْلَكْتَ "

Abu Khaithama narrated to us, saying: Wakee` reported to us from Sufyaan from Abu Haseen from Abu ‘Abd-ir-Rahmaan that he said: “Once ‘Alee passed by a man who was narrating hadeeth, so he said to him: ‘Do you know that which abrogates from that which is abrogated?’ The man said: ‘No.’ So he said: ‘You are ruined and ruining others [1]

[Ref:  Kitaab al-`Ilm of Abu Khaithama an Nasa`ee (130)]


[1] Shaykh Albaanee said : Its chain is saheeh according to the standards of the two Shaikhs. Abu 'Abd-ir-Rahmaan is 'Abdullaah Ibn Habeeb As-Sulamee. He was a Taabi'ee, reciter of the Qur'aan, reliable and trustworthy. The name of Abu Hiseen is 'Uthmaan Ibn 'Aasim Al-Asadee. He was also reliable and trustworthy. He died in the year 127H.

Imam az-Zuhri (rahimahullah) said :

إِذَا أَصَبْتَ الْمَعْنَى فَلَا بَأْسَ

If you can get the meaning (of the hadeeth) correctly (i.e convey the exact meaning as opposed to quoting the exact hadeeth word to word), then there is no harm 

This fatwa of Imam az-Zuhri is not to be taken to mean something else than what the Ahl al-`Ilm have agreed over. Conveying the ahadeeth of the prophet (sallalahu `alayhi wa sallam) is no joke or something to be taken lightly. So Imam az-Zuhri here implies that during a khutbah or say a conversation or any such situation where you are absolutely "learned" of the meaning of a hadeeth then you may quote the meaning instead of the exact word to word narration with the sanad. This in no way allows even the remotest possibility of narrating ahadeeth in broken, or interrupted or more appropriately say ambiguous forms 


107 - حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو خَيْثَمَةَ ثنا حَجَّاجُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي عَطَاءٌ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، وَالنَّاسُ يَسْأَلُونَهُ يَقُولُ: " لَوْلَا آيَةٌ أُنْزِلَتْ فِي سُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ لَمَا أَخْبَرْتُ بِشَيْءٍ، فَلَوْلَا أَنَّهُ قَالَ {إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَا أَنْزَلْنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالْهُدَى مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا بَيَّنَّاهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِي الْكِتَابِ أُولَئِكَ يَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّاعِنُونَ} [البقرة: 159] "

Ibn Juraij reported: 'Ataa informed me that he heard Abu Hurairah say while he was being asked questions by the people: 'If it were not for an ayah that was revealed in Surah Al-Baqarah, I would not have informed you of anything. If it were not that He said: 'Verily, those who conceal what We have sent down from the clear evidences and the guidance, after We have explained it clearly to the people in the Book, they are the ones cursed by Allaah and cursed by those who curse [Surah Baqrah 159] 

[Kitaab al-`Ilm of Abi Khaithama an-Nasa`ee (107). Its chain of narration is saheeh according to the standards of the two Shaikhs. Al-Bukhaaree (1/42) has
transmitted it from the path of Al-A'araj on Abu Hurairah] 

Ibn Taymiyyah rahimahullah said : 

Whoever speaks about the affairs of this deen without knowledge then he is a LIAR, even if he may not be lying intentionally 

[Ref: Majmoo` al-Fataawa] 



Ibn al-Qayyim rahimahullah said :

وَهَكَذَا لَا يَسُوغُ أَنْ يَقُولَ: " قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ - صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - " لِمَا لَا يَعْلَمُ صِحَّتَهُ وَلَا ثِقَةَ رُوَاتِهِ بَلْ إِذَا رَأَى أَيَّ حَدِيثٍ كَانَ فِي أَيِّ كِتَابٍ، يَقُولُ: " لِقَوْلِهِ - صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - " أَوْ " لَنَا قَوْلُهُ - صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - وَهَذَا خَطَرٌ عَظِيمٌ، وَشَهَادَةٌ عَلَى الرَّسُولِ بِمَا لَا يَعْلَمُ الشَّاهِدُ.

"

Rough translation

And similarly, it is not permissible to say “ this is the statement of the prophet (s.a.w) or the prophet sallalahu `alayhi wa sallam said this…” until the authenticity (sehat and thiqhat) of that narration is not known .  So (it happens as) if a person sees a hadeeth in any book and says my statement (madhab or daleel) is in accordance to this statement of the prophet sallalahu `alayhi wa sallam (i.e he takes evidence from this unverified narration).  This is a matter of grave danger such that the one testifying (that this is the statement of the prophet) in reality does not even know (if his testimony i.e what he is attributing to the prophet is true or not)

[Ref: al-Ahkam ahl al-dhimma li ibn al-qayyim 1/114; he placed this statement under : [فَصْلٌ لَا يَسُوغُ إِطْلَاقُ حُكْمِ اللَّهِ عَلَى مَسَائِلِ الِاجْتِهَادِ إِلَّا مَا عُلِمَ حُكْمُ اللَّهِ فِيهِ يَقِينًا]\

See how our sahaaba and salaf VERIFIED everything before sharing it to the masses: http://the-finalrevelation.blogspot.com/2013/12/yes-sahaaba-and-salaf-used-to-verify.html

See: Warning from self interpretation of Qur`an and hadeeth: http://the-finalrevelation.blogspot.com/2014/02/warning-from-self-interpretation-of.html