Question
Regarding the Hadith:
من كان ذا وجهين في الدنيا كان له يوم القيامة لسانان من نار
In most copies of Zadut Talibin I have referred to, the Hadith has the word لسان (singular). The reference in Zadut Talibin is Abu Dawud and Darimi. When I referred to Abu Dawud and Darimi, the Hadith appears with the word لسانان (dual).
I found a Pakistani print of Mishkatul Masabih wherein the Hadith appears with the word لسان (singular) whereas other prints of Mishkatul Masabih have the word لسانان (plural).
Is the word لسان in the Pakistani print of Mishkatul Masabih a printing error and since Zadut Talibin is compiled from Mishkatul Masabih, most prints of Zadut Talibin have the same error?
Answer
As you have mentioned, all the primary sources in which this Hadith appears in have the words ‘لسانان’ i.e. dual.
See the references of the primary sources and the translation of the Hadith here.
It would hence signify that the singular form, لسان is a typographical error. The Hadith should therefore be quoted with the dual form, لسانان as this is what appears in the primary sources.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar