Is the following narration authentic?
عبد الرزاق عن معمر عن الحسن البصري أنه تلا هذه الآية ومن أحسن قولا ممن دعا إلى الله وعمل صالحا وقال إنني من المسلمين فقال هذا حبيب الله هذا ولي الله هذا صفوة الله هذا خيرة الله هذا أحب أهل الأرض إلى الله أجاب الله في دعوته ودعا الناس إلى ما أجاب الله فيه من دعوته وعمل صالحا في إجابته وقال إنني من المسلمين هذا خليفة الله
Answer
Imam ‘Abdur Razzaq (rahimahullah) and others have recorded this statement of Hasan Al Basri (rahimahullah) with a reliable chain. The narration is suitable to quote.
(Tafsir Abdur Razzaq; Refer: Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Surah Fussilat, Verse: 33 and Tafsir Tabari)
Translation
Hasan Al Basri (rahimahullah) recited the verse, ‘Whose speech can be better than the one who calls to Allah, who performs righteous deeds and says, ‘I am from the Muslims’ (Surah Fussilat, Verse: 33) and then said:
“This person [referred to in the above verse] is the beloved of Allah, the friend of Allah, the chosen one of Allah, the most beloved of all those on earth to Allah. He has answered Allah’s call, and has invited the people [to respond to] what he has responded. He has done good in answering Allah and has declared that he is from among the Muslims, [and therefore he is] the vicegerent of Allah”
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar