Is this Hadith reliable?
Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“A man cannot become pious until he abandons permissible acts in order to save himself from impermissible acts”
Answer:
Imams Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Hakim (rahimahumullah) have recorded the following narration on the authority of Sayyiduna ‘Atiyyah As Sa’di (radiyallahu ‘anhu):
“A man will not be from the Muttaqin [Those who truly fear Allah Ta’ala] until he abandons permissible acts out of fear that he engage in impermissible acts”
(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 2451, Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 4215 and Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 4 pg. 319)
Imam Tirmidhi has graded the Hadith as sound (hasan). Imam Hakim has declared the Hadith authentic (sahih) and Hafiz Dhahabi concurs.
And Allah Ta’ala knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar