Question
Is this narration authentic:
Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“No young person grows up worshipping Allah and then encounters death except that Allah grants him the reward of ninety two/ninety nine Siddiqs [truthful servants].”
Answer
Imam Tabarani (rahimahullah) has recorded this narration with more than one chain.
(Al Mu’jamul Kabir, Hadith: 7589-7590, Musnadush Shamiyyin, Hadith: 3424)
‘Allamah Haythami (rahimahullah) has declared a narrator in one chain very weak. ‘Allamah Dhahabi (rahimahullah) has declared the text of the Hadith extremely unreliable (منكر جدا).
(Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 1 pg. 124, Mizanul I’tidal, vol. 5 pg. 251)
The following narration should be quoted instead which explains the virtue of a youngster who devotes himself to ‘ibadah:
Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “… Allah Ta’ala will grant shade to seven types of people on the Day of Qiyamah, a day when there will be no shade but His… The second category being, ‘That youngster who grew up worshipping Allah Ta’ala…”
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 660, 1423, 6806 and Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 1031)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar