What is the reference and authenticity of the following Hadith?
Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibnul ‘As (radiyallahu ‘anhuma):
“‘As ibn Wa-il made a bequest that a hundred slaves should be emancipated on his behalf. His son, Hisham emancipated fifty slaves. His other son, ‘Amr intended to emancipate the remaining fifty on his behalf, but he said, ‘I should first ask Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). He therefore came to Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and said, ‘O Rasulullah! My father left in his will that a hundred slaves should be emancipated on his behalf. Hisham has emancipated fifty on his behalf and fifty remain. Shall I emancipate them on his behalf?
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘Had he been a Muslim and you had emancipated slaves on his behalf, or given sadaqah on his behalf, or performed the pilgrimage, that would have reached him.’
Answer
Imam Abu Dawud (rahimahullah) has recorded this narration with a sound chain.
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 2875)
Also see here.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar