Please advise regarding the authenticity and commentary of this Hadith:
‘Amr ibn ‘Al Sharid quoted his father Sharid as saying: Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) came upon me when I was sitting thus: having my left hand behind my back and leaning on the fleshy part of it, and said: ‘Are you sitting in the manner of those with whom Allah is angry?’
Answer
The Hadith in question is authentic and has been recorded in the following Hadith collections:
- Sunan Abi Dawud, 4815
- Musnad Ahmad, vol. 4 pg. 388
- Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, 5674
- Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 4 pg. 269
Imam Nawawi (rahimahullah) has declared the chain in Abu Dawud authentic (Riyadus Salihin, Hadith: 837)
Explanation of this posture
1) Mulla ‘Ali Qari and ‘Allamah ‘Azimabadi (rahimahumallah) have explained the posture in the following way:
The Sahabi was seated placing his left hand behind his back and leaning on the thenar [The fleshy part of the hand at the base of the thumb] of his right hand.
(Mirqatul Mafatih, Hadith: 4730, ‘Awnul Ma’bud, Hadith: 4840)
Shaykh Sabuni (hafizahullah) explains, ‘This is the posture of the Jews. They sit leaning on the palms of the right hand while placing the left hand behind their backs, just as donkeys do when laying down.
(Sharhu Riyadis Salihin, Hadith: 822)
2) ‘Allamah Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri (rahimahullah) has explained the posture in the following way:
The Sahabi was seated placing his left hand behind him and leaning on the thenar [The fleshy part of the hand at the base of the thumb] of his left hand.
Other commentators like ‘Allamah Sindhi and Ibn ‘Allan (rahimahumallah) also seem to explain the posture in this manner [the second explanation] although they have not explicitly mentioned this.
(Hashiyatus Sindhi ‘Ala Musnadil Imam Ahmad, vol. 4 pg. 459 and Dalilul Falihin, vol. 3 pg. 263)
The commentators mention that ‘Those with whom Allah is angry’ refers to the Jews. Mulla ‘Ali Al Qari (rahimahullah) says, it refers to all the disbelievers, sinners and proud ones who display pride and arrogance through this posture.
‘Allamah Sindhi and Mullah ‘Ali Al Qari (rahimahullah) further explain, ‘It is possible that this will be their posture in Jahannam.’
One should also refer to a reliable Mufti/Darul ifta for a Juristic (fiqhi) ruling on the disliked postures of sitting.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar