Is this incident authentic?
Sa’d Al Aswad As Sulami (radiyallahu ‘anhu) who was not good looking wanted to get married. But none wanted to marry their daughter to him. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) sent him to a Sahabi and he also initially refused to marry his daughter to Sa’d As Sulami (radiyallahu ‘anhu). However his daughter said that this was the wish of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and married him. Sa’d As Sulami (radiyallahu ‘anhu) heard the call of jihad, bought a horse and a sword and went to fight and was martyred, Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) looked at him smiled, cried and turned his face.
Answer
Imam Ibn ‘Adiy (rahimahullah) and others have recorded a lengthy narration regarding Sayyiduna Sa’d Al Aswad As Sulami (radiyallahu ‘anhu) which mentions his supposed marriage similar to the question above. However this narration has been declared a fabrication by Imam Hakim. Hafiz Ibn Hajar Al ‘Asqalani (rahimahullah) has cited Imam Hakim (rahimahullah)’s ruling on this incident.
(Al Kamil, vol. 9 pg. 255-259 and Al Isabah, vol. 4 pg. 310/311)
A similar authentic incident has been recorded by Imam Ahmad and others regarding Sayyiduna Julaybib (radiyallahu ‘anhu). This is the correct version of the narration. The incident in question should therefore be quoted as occurring to Sayyiduna Julaybib and not Sayyiduna Sa’d As Sulami (radiyallahu ‘anhuma)
(Refer: Musnad Ahmad, vol. 3 pg. 136 and vol. 4 pg. 422)
See the narration regarding Sayyiduna Julaybib (radiyallahu ‘anhu)’s martyrdom here.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar