Question:
What is the authenticity of the following Hadith;
Raafi’ ibn Khadeej R.A. has narrated that he heard the messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) Saying:
“Offer the Fajr Salaah when it is considerably bright because its reward is greater.”
(Jami Tirmidhi; 1/40 | Sunan Abi Dawood; 1/67 | Sunan Nasa’i; 1/94)
Please Tell me with references and with quotes of Scholars about this hadith.
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
The Hadīth referred to is:
عَنْ رَافِعِ بْنِ خَدِيجٍ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «أَسْفِرُوا بِالفَجْرِ، فَإِنَّهُ أَعْظَمُ لِلأَجْرِ»
Takhrīj:
From among the many books of Hadīth, the following are a few which quote the Hadīth with slight variations in the wording:
1) Sunan Abū Dāwūd
2) Sunan Nasa’ī
3) Sunan Tirmidhī
4) Musnad Ahmad
5) Musannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah
6) Musnad Bazzār
7) Sahīh Ibn Hibbān
8) Mu’jam al-Kabīr
Authenticity:
1) Imam Tirmidhī rahimahullah states that the Hadīth is ‘Hasan Sahīh’[1]
2) Hafidh Ibn Hajar al-Asqalānī rahimahullah states that a number of Muhaddithīn have stated this narration to be authentic.[2]
There is a difference of opinion among the scholars with respect to the meaning of this Hadith.
And Allah Ta’ālā Knows Best
Mufti Faraz Adam
www.darulfiqh.com