1. What is status of following Hadith?
لما خلق الله العقل قال له: قم، فقام، ثم قال له: أدبر، فأدبر، ثم قال له: أقبل، فأقبل، ثم قال له: اقعد، فقعد، فقال: ما خلقت خلقاً هو خير منك، ولا أفضل منك، ولا أحسن منك، ولا أكرم منك، بك آخذ، وبك أعطي، وبك أعرف، لك الثواب، وعليك العقاب
2. Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has not indicated any kalam on it in Mishkat’s takhrij. Does it mean it is hasan according to him? While it is stated in Fathul Bari:
وَأَمَّا حَدِيثُ أَوَّلُ مَا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ الْعَقْلُ فَلَيْسَ لَهُ طَرِيقٌ ثَبْتٌ وَعَلَى تَقْدِيرِ ثُبُوتِهِ فَهَذَا التَّقْدِيرُ الْأَخِيرُ هُوَ تَأْوِيلُهُ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ
Answer
The Hadith from Mishkat is recorded by Imams Bayhaqi, Tabarani -with two chains- and Ibnul Imam Ahmad (rahimahullah) and others.
The authenticity is well debated.
Despite ‘Allamah Suyuti (rahimahullah) declaring the chain of the last reference as good (jayyid). [This one is reported from Hasan Basri from Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) (mursalan)], ‘Allamah Sakhawi (rahimahullah) has refuted this. Ibn ‘Arraq (rahimahullah) also agreed that there isn’t sufficient substantiation for it.
(Kashful Khafa, Hadith: 2075, Al-Maqasidul Hasanah, Hadith: 233 and Tanzihush Shai’ah, vol.1 pg.203-204)
The crux is like Hafiz ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has stated in the quote that you have provided from Fathul Bari; there is no credible chain for this.
It should therefore not be quoted.
2. Hafiz Ibn Hajar’s (rahimahullah) silence only guarantees reliability for the Hadiths that are quoted in the second chapter (Al-Fasluth Thani) of Mishkat. The Hadith in question is cited under the third chapter (Al-Fasluth Thalith) and is therefore not authenticated by Ibn Hajar’s (rahimahullah) silence. See here for more on this principle.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar