What is the authenticity of the following?
“The peak of intellect after Iman is to show love to people and doing good to pious people as well as sinners”
Answer
Imam Bayhaqi (rahimahullah) has recorded this narration on the authority of Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu) with an extremely weak chain. In fact ‘Allamah Dhahabi (rahimahullah) has declared the Hadiths reported by this particular problematic narrator as fabrications.
(Shu’abul Iman, Hadith: 7705. Refer: Lisanul Mizan, vol. 4 pg. 425 -number: 4143. Also see: Faydul Qadir, Hadith: 4369)
The first part of this Hadith has also been reported (mursalan) with a weak chain with the following words, ‘The peak of intellect after Iman is to treat people with compassion’
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 25937 and Shu’abul Iman, Hadith: 8089 and 8636)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar