What is the status of the following Hadith?
A man once came to Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and said, ‘O Rasulullah! Teach me the strange and unusual aspects of knowledge’. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said ‘What have you done regarding the main aspects of knowledge that you seeking the unusual aspects’? The man asked, ‘What are the main aspects’? Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) asked, ‘Have you recognised Allah’? He replied, ‘Yes’. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) asked, ‘What have you done to fulfil his rights’? He replied, ‘Whatever Allah has wished’. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) asked, ‘Have you realised the reality of death’? When he replied in the affirmative, Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) asked, ‘What have you prepared for it’? He replied, ‘Whatever Allah has wished’. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘Go and carry out these deeds properly then come and I will teach you the unusual aspects’.
Answer
Imam Abu Nu’aym (rahimahullah) has recorded this narration.
(Hilyatul Awliya, vol. 1 pg. 24)
However, ‘Allamah Suyuti (rahimahullah) has cited this Hadith in his book on fabricated Hadiths as the chain consists of a fabricator. The Hadith is therefore not suitable to quote.
(Dhaylul La-Alil Masnu’ah, vol. 1 pg. 178/179, Hadith: 202, Tanzihush Shari’ah, vol. 1 pg. 277. Also see: Al Mughni ‘An Hamlil Asfar, Hadith: 155)
Although this Hadith is not suitable to quote, one should bear in mind that The Salaf (pious predecessors) like Imam Abu Yusuf (rahimahullah) would discourage quoting the unusual aspects of knowledge.
(Refer: Fathul Bari, Under Hadith: 127)
This was due to these ‘unusual’ issues generally being unauthentic.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar