Is the following narration authentic?
1) When Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) married Sayyidah Ummu Kulthum to Sayyiduna ‘Uthman, he said to her,
“Verily, your husband resembles your forefather Ibrahim, and your father Muhammad”.
2) Ibn Asakir has recorded on the authority of Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said,
” I find a resemblance in ‘Uthman to my forefather Ibrahim”.
Answer
1) Imam Ibn ‘Adiy (rahimahullah) has recorded the first Hadith on the authority of Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah (radiyallahu ‘anha). Hafiz Ibn ‘Asakir (rahimahullah) has also cited this narration.
(Al Kamil, vol. 7 pg. 585/6 and Tarikh Dimashq, vol. 39 pg. 28)
This narration has been transmitted through a very weak narrator who has been declared by some Muhaddithun as a liar. Hafiz Dhahabi (rahimahullah) has declared this narration as a fabrication.
(Refer: Al Kamil, vol. 7 pgs. 583-586, Mizanul I’tidal, vol. 3 pg. 255 – number: 5989- and Lisanul Mizan, vol. 6 pg. 187/8 -number: 5775-)
2) Imam Abu Ja’far Al ‘Uqayli and Imam Ibn ‘Adiy (rahimahumallah) have recorded the second narration. Hafiz Ibn ‘Asakir (rahimahullah) has also recorded this narration with his chain of narrators which goes through Imam ‘Uqayli and Imam Ibn ‘Adiy (rahimahumallah).
(Kitabud Du’afa, vol. 4 pg. 165 -number: 1171-, Al Kamil, vol. 7 pg. 581 and Tarikh Dimashq, vol. 39 pg. 28 and 32)
Hafiz Dhahabi (rahimahullah) has declared this narration as extremely weak (munkarun jiddan)
(Mizanul I’tidal, vol. 3 pg. 274 -number; 274- Lisanul Mizan, vol. 6 pg. 212 -number: 5811-. Also see footnotes of Shaykh ‘Abdul Fattah Abu Ghuddah -rahimahullah- on Lisanul Mizan under biography number: 5645 -vol. 6 pg. 117)
Both these narration are not suitable to quote.
And Allah Ta’ala knows best
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar