Is this authentic?
Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“O Abu Kahil, whoever works and provides for his wife, children and slaves, enforcing the laws of Allah upon them and only provides halal, Allah Ta’ala will grant him the stage of the martyrs”
Answer
This narration is part of a lengthy narration which comprises of approximately thirteen advices that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) allegedly offered to Sayyiduna Abu Kahil (radiyallahu ‘anhu). Imam Tabarani (rahimahullah) and others have recorded this narration.
(Al Mu’jamul Kabir, Hadith: 928, Volume: 18)
This narration however has been declared as extremely weak (munkar) by many Muhaddithun like Imam Ibn ‘Abdil Barr, Hafiz Mundhiri and Hafiz Dhahabi (rahimahumullah). In Fact Hafiz Dhahabi (rahimahullah) has termed the text of this narration as baseless (batil). This narration should therefore not be quoted.
(Refer: Al Isti’ab, vol. 4 pg. 301, Targhib, vol. 4 pg. 263, Lisanul Mizan, vol. 6 pg. 346 -6061-, Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 4 pg. 219 and Al Qawlul Badi’, pg. 258)
See other parts of this narration here and here.
There are many authentic Hadiths which explain the reward for spending on one’s family. These 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