Can I quote the following narration?
عن معاذ رضي الله عنه أن رجلاً قال: حدثنى حديثاً سمعته من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: فبكى معاذ حتى ظننت أنه لا يسكت، ثم سكت ثم قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال لى يا معاذ: قلت له لبيك بأبى أنت وأمى. قال: إنى مُحدثك حديثا إن انت حفظته نفعك، وإن أنت ضيعته ولم تحفظه انقطعت حجتك عند الله يوم القيامة، يا معاذ: إن الله خلق سبعة أملاك قبل أن يخلق السموات والأرض، ثم خلق السموات فجعل لكل سماء من السبعة ملكا بواباً عليها قد جللها عظما فتصعد الحفظة بعمل العبد….الى آخر الحديث
Answer
This Hadith has been declared a fabrication by the Muhaddithun. ‘Allamah Mundhiri (rahimahullah) says, ‘The signs of fabrication are evident in all off the chains and words of this Hadith.’ The Hadith is not suitable to quote.
(Targhib, vol. 1 pg. 73-76. Also see: ‘Ujalatul Imla, pg. 35-38)
The gist of the Hadith in question:
A person once asked Sayyiduna Mu’adh ibn Jabal (radiyallahu ‘anhu) to narrate a Hadith he had heard from Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). Sayyiduna Mu’adh narrated a lengthy Hadith regarding the creation of the seven heavens and what transpires through each sky when a person does a good deed. The Hadith goes on to mention how an action is rejected and flung back onto a person’s face when the action is carried out without sincerity.
The Hadith then mentions advices regarding, protecting the tongue and caution against creating a rift between Muslims.
There are many authentic Hadiths on these topics which should be quoted instead.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar