Question
The following has been attributed to the words of Imam Ghazali (rahimahullah).
“O Dawud, you want and I want, so if you submit to what I want, I will take care of what you want. And if you don’t submit to what I want, I will exhaust you in what you want, and then you will only get what I want”
Are these the words of Imam Ghazali, a Hadith or the words of Allah Ta’ala?
Answer
These are not the words of Imam Ghazali (rahimahullah) nor are they a Hadith of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). Imam Ghazali (rahimahullah) has cited this narration as a Hadith Qudsi that Allah revealed to Nabi Dawud (‘alayhis salam), without any chain.
(Ihya ‘Ulumid Din, vol. 8 pg. 533)
Imam Hakim Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) has recorded a very similar narration on the authority of Hasan Al Basri (rahimahullah) who reported that Allah Ta’ala revealed to Dawud (‘alayhis salam).
(Nawadirul Usul, Hadith: 732 and 1597)
See this version and the authenticity here.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar