Is this Hadith authentic?
Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“My personal adviser and trustee, my confidant and the best person after me who will fulfill my promises is Ali ibn Abi Talib”
Answer
Imam Tabarani (rahimahullah) and others have recorded this narration.
Sayyiduna Salman Al Farisi (radiyallahu ‘anhu) once asked Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), ‘O Rasulullah, Every Nabi had a personal advisor, who is your advisor?’ After some time Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) informed him, ‘O Salman, My personal advisor, my confidant, the best after me, the person who will fulfill my promises/commitments and pay my debts is ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib’
(Al Mu’jamul Kabir, Hadith: 6063)
However, ‘Allamah Dhahabi (rahimahullah) has declared the text unreliable (munkar). Hafiz Haythami (rahimahullah) has declared a narrator very weak. The Hadith is therefore not suitable to quote.
(Mizanul I’tidal, vol. 5 pg. 6. Also see: Al Masnu’, Hadith: 389)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar