Is this Hadith authentic?
A person came to Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and asked: O Rasulullah! How many times should I forgive/overlook my servant? Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) remained silent. The man asked again: O Rasulullah! How many times should I forgive/overlook my servant? He replied: Everyday seventy times [i.e. many times a day].’”
Answer
Imam Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) has recorded this Hadith on the authority of Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) or Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr (radiyallahu ‘anhuma). He has declared the Hadith sound (hasanun gharib).
(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 1949)
Imam Abu Dawud (rahimahullah) has also recorded this Hadith with slight variation in the wording.
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 5121)
Also see Musnad Ahmad, hadith: 5635 with Shaykh Ahmad Shakir’s (rahimahullah) footnote.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar