What is the authenticity and reference of the following Hadith?
يؤمر بإخراج رجلين من النار فإذا خرجا ووقفا قال الله لهما: كيف وجدتما مقيلكما وسوء مصيركما؟ فيقولان: شر مقيل وأسوأ مصير صار إليه العباد فيقول لهما: بما قدمت أيديكما وما أنا بظلام للعبيد قال: فيأمر بصرفهما إلى النار فأما أحدهما فيعدو في أغلاله وسلاسله حتى يقتحمها، وأما الآخر فيتلكا فيأمر بردهما فيقول للذي عدا في أغلاله وسلاسله ما حملك على ما صنعت وقد خبرتها؟ فيقول: إني قد خبرت من وبال المعصية ما لم أكن أتعرض لسخطك ثانية قال: ويقول للذي تلكأ ما حملك على ما صنعت؟ فيقول: حسن ظني بك حين أخرجتني منها ألا تردني إليها فيرحمهما ويأمر بهما إلى الجنة
Answer
Imam Abu Bakr ibn Abid Dunya and Imam Abu Nu’aym (rahimahumallah) have recorded this narration with a weak chain as the statement of Bilal Ibn Sa’d (rahimahullah), a Tabi’i.
(Husnuz Zanni Billah, Hadith: 59 and Hilyatul Awliya, vol. 5 pg. 226. Refer: Lisanul Mizan, vol. 8 pg. 165-168)
Gist of the narration in question
Two people will be brought out of Jahannam. After being asked by Allah, they will say that Jahannam was the worst place. Allah Ta’ala will say that this was only due to their sins. Allah Ta’ala will then command them to go back into Jahannam. One person will run and dive into Jahannam with his shackles and chains and the other will delay and keep looking back.
They will be brought back and re questioned. The first will person will say he did so, as he had experienced the wrath of Allah and did not wish to disobey Allah Ta’ala for the second time. The second person will say he delayed as he had good thoughts regarding Allah Ta’ala that since Allah removed him from Jahannam, he will not re enter him.
Allah will shower His mercy and both of them will be admitted into Jannah.
Imam Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) has recorded a similar narration as a Hadith of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) also with a weak a weak chain. The words of this version are as follows:
Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “Two men from Jahannam will shriek. Allah Ta’ala will say: ‘Take them out.’ When they are taken out He will say: ‘What caused you to shriek?’ They will say: ‘We did that so You would have mercy on us.’ Allah will say: ‘My mercy for you is that you both go and throw yourselves where you were in Jahannam.’ So they will go. One person will throw himself in, but Allah will make it cool and peaceful for him. The other will stand and not throw himself in. Allah Ta’ala will say to him: ‘What prevented you from throwing yourself in as the other person did?’ He will say: ‘O my Rabb! I hoped that you will not return me to the fire after You have taken me out.’ Allah Ta’ala will say to him: ‘You have what you hoped for’ and so they will both enter Jannah through the mercy of Allah”
(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 2599. Also see: Fathul Mulhim, Hadith: 486)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar,
Weak narrations are suitable for narrations like these.
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar