Is this Hadith suitable to quote?
Jabir (radiyallahu ‘anhu) was reported to have said:
“When ‘Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim’ [In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful] was revealed, the clouds gave way by moving to the East, the winds ceased blowing, the oceans became calm, the creatures prepared themselves to listen, the shayatin were pelted [with fire from the heavens] and Allah, swearing an oath by His honour, declared: ‘Anyone who says this name of mine upon anything, I will surely impart barakah in that thing.’”
Answer
This narration is recorded in Tafsir Ibn Marduyah. I have not come across the complete chain.
Hafiz Ibn Kathir (rahimahullah) has cited a portion of the chain. These narrators [of the partial chain] are all reliable. Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah (hafizahullah) has stated that the complete chain certainly needs to be inspected and has expressed some reservation in the authenticity of some words of this narration, especially the version that is recorded in Tafsir Tha’labi.
(لكن ينظر حال من دونهم ولا بدّ ففي بعض ألفاظه ما يتوقف فيه لا سيما الزيادة التي في آخر رواية الثعلبي)
(Tafsir Ibn Kathir, before Surah Fatihah, vol. 1 pg. 178, Footnotes on Tadribur Rawi, vol. 2 pg. 92/93
In light of the above, one should refrain from quoting this until it can be fully verified.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar