What is the authenticity of the following narration?
Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“When the sun rises from the west, Shaytan will fall into sajdah calling out to Allah, ‘Command me to prostrate to anyone you wish’. His assistants [other Shayatin] will say to him, ‘O Our leader! Why are you submitting and humbling yourself?’. He will say, ‘I asked my Rabb to grant me respite to an appointed time and this is the appointed time’. Then an animal will emerge from a crack in Mount Safa. It’s first step will be in Antioch. It will then go to Iblis and strike him”
Answer
Imam Tabarani (rahimahullah) has recorded this Hadith with a weak chain.
(Al Mu’jamul Kabir, Hadith: 14697 and Al Mu’jamul Awsat, Hadith: 94. Refer: Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 8 pg. 8)
However, Hafiz Ibn Kathir (rahimahullah) has deemed the Hadith ‘very strange’ (gharibun jiddan) and that it’s attribution to Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is objectionable. He further states that this narration seems to be from some scriptures of the people of the book (Israiliyyat/Historical sources).
(Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Surah Al An’am, Verse: 158 and An Nihayah Fil Fitan Wal Malahim, vol. 1 pg. 169)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar