Is this narration authentic?
ذكر عند النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم رجل بعبادة واجتهاد فقال: كيف ذكر صاحبكم للموت؟ قالوا: ما نسمعه يذكره قال: ليس صاحبكم هناك
Answer:
Imam Bazzar (rahimahullah) has recorded this Hadith on the authority of Sayyiduna Anas (radiyallahu ‘anhu). ‘Allamah Haythami (rahimahullah) has declared a narrator very weak.
(Musnad Bazzar; Kashful Astar, Hadith: 3622, Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 10 pg. 309)
However, Imam Tabarani (rahimahullah) has recorded a similar narration which corroborates the Hadith in question. ‘Allamah Mundhiri (rahimahullah) has declared this version sound (hasan).
(Targhib, vol. 4 pg. 239)
Therefore, the Hadith in question may be quoted.
Translation
Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was once informed of a person’s ‘ibadah and striving for the cause of Din. He asked, ‘[How often] would he remember death.’ They replied, ‘We never heard him discuss death.’ Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘In that case, he is not of a very high level.’
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar