What is the authenticity of the following narration:
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“There is among you a person who will fight for the interpretation of the Quran just as I fought when it was revealed.”
The people around him raised their heads and cast inquisitive glances at Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) were also present. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr inquired if he was that person and Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) replied in the negative. Then Sayyiduna ‘Umar inquired if he was that person and Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) replied ‘No’. He is the one who is repairing my shoes (i.e. Sayyiduna ‘Ali -radiyallahu ‘anhu-).”
Sayyiduna Abu Said Khudri (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said: We went to Sayyiduna ‘Ali and conveyed the good news to him. He did not even raise his head and remained as busy as he was, as if he had already heard this from the Messenger of Allah
Answer
This Hadith has been recorded in various Hadith collections with slight variations in the wordings and has been declared authentic (sahih) by Hafiz Ibn Hibban and Imam Hakim (rahimahumallah). Hafiz Dhahabi (rahimahullah) has authenticated this narration.
Hafiz Haythami (rahimahullah) has also declared the chain of narrators in Musnad Ahmad and Musnad Abu Ya’la as reliable.
(Refer: Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 6937, Musnad Ahmad, vol. 3 pg. 31/34 and vol. 3 pg. 82, Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 3 pg. 123, Musnad Abu Ya’la, Hadith: 1086, Talkhisu Kitabil ‘Ilal Al Mutanahiyah, Hadith: 185 and Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 9 pg. 133 and vol. 5 pg. 186)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar