What is the grading of the following Hadith?
Our beloved Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
اللهم ارحم خلفائي
(O Allah, have mercy on my vicegerents)
The Sahabah (radiyallah ‘anhum) asked:
و من خلفاؤك؟
(Who are they?)
Our beloved Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) replied:
اللذين يروون أحاديثي و سنتي ويعلمونها للناس
(Those who report my Hadith/Sunnah and teach it to the people)
Answer
This Hadith is recorded with a few chains that are very weak. However the last sentence does acquire a degree of support from another narration as explained by my Beloved Teacher; Al-Muhaddith, Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah (hafizahullah). Therefore several Muhaddithun have included it in the chapter of the virtue of spreading Hadith, and the excellence of those who engage in that.
(Al-Mu’jamul Awsat, Hadith: 5842, Al-Muhaddithul Fasil, Sharafu As-habil Hadith, pg. 30-31 and Akhbar Asbahan, vol.1 pg.81. Also see: Targhib, vol.1 pg.110 and commentary of Shaykh ‘Awwamah on Tadribur Rawi, vol.4 pg.502-504)
However as a precaution, one should quote other Hadiths instead.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar