I wanted to know the status and commentary of the following Hadith:
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“The Believer who mingles with the people and endures patience over their harm is better than one who does not mingle with the people nor endures patience over their harm.”
Answer
Imams Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, Ahmad (rahimahumullah) and other Muhaddithun have recorded this Hadith.
(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 2507, Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 4032, Musnad Ahmad, vol. 2 pg. 43)
Hafiz Ibn Hajar Al ‘Asqalani (rahimahullah) has graded the chain of Ibn Majah sound (hasan).
(Fathul Bari, Hadith: 6100, Also see: Footnotes of Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah on Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 26744)
This Hadith states that it is better for a person to live among other people, enjoining good and forbidding evil, treating them well and displaying excellent conduct rather than isolating himself and remaining aloof.
(Refer: Tuhfatul Ahwadhi, Hadith: 2508)
However, there are other authentic Hadiths as well which encourage living in isolation. The commentators therefore state that if a person fears for his Din, then isolation is preferred. Under normal circumstances, mixing with people is preferred.
(Refer: Sharhu Mushkilil Athar, vol. 14 pg. 161-163, Fathul Bari, Hadith: 7088 and Hashiyatus Sindhi on Sunan Nasai, Hadith: 5036)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar