There should be no harm or reciprocating harm

Is this Hadith reliable?

لا ضرر ولا ضرار

“There should be no harm or reciprocating harm”

Answer

This Hadith has been recorded with a few chains in several Hadith collections with slight variations. Among them are the following:

1. Muwatta Imam Malik, 2171
2. Sunan Ibn Majah, 2340-2341
3. Musnad Ahmad, vol. 5 pg. 327
4. As Sunanul Kubra of Imam Bayhaqi, vol. 6 pg. 69
5. Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 2 pg. 57-58

Imam Hakim (rahimahullah) has declared the Hadith authentic and ‘Allamah Dhahabi concurs. Hafiz Ibnus Salah (rahimahullah) has declared the Hadith sound due to corroboration. Hafiz Al ‘Alaiy (rahimahullah) has also echoed a similar ruling. ‘Allamah Nawawi (rahimahullah) has graded the Hadith sound (hasan).

(Refer: Jami’ul Ulumi Wal Hikam, vol. 2 pg. 116-119, Hadith: 32 and Faydul Qadir, Hadith: 9899)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar