What is the reference and authenticity of this Hadith?
“Most of the Munafiqun of this Ummah are the reciters of the Quran [learned ones]”
Answer
Imam Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah, Imam Ahmad (rahimahumallah) and other Muhaddithun have recorded this narration on the authority of Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibnul ‘As (radiyallahu ‘anhuma).
Hafiz Haythami has declared the narrators reliable.
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 35476, Musnad Ahmad, vol. 2 pg. 175. Refer: Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 6 pg. 229/230)
Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah (hafizahullah) explains this Hadith: “Hypocrisy will become rife among the so called learned of this Ummah . They will seek to get close to those in authority and will begin to toy with this Din according to their desires”
(Footnotes on Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 35476)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar