Is this narration authentic?
Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said: The life of this world is travelling away from us and the Hereafter is travelling towards us. Both have children, so be from the children of the Hereafter and not from the children of this world, for today is for action without reckoning (judgement) and tomorrow is reckoning without action.
Answer
Imams Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah, Abu Bakr ibn Abid Dunya, Bayhaqi and other Muhaddithun have recorded this statement of Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu), as part of a longer narration.
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 35636, Kitabu Qasril Amal, Hadith: 49, Shu’abul Iman, 10130)
Imam Bukhari (rahimahullah) has also cited this narration ta’liqan (without a chain), using the authoritative form [sighatul jazm] thereby indicating towards its suitability.
(Sahih Bukhari, before Hadith: 6417)
The narration is suitable to quote.
(Refer: Fathul Bari, before Hadith: 6317, vol. 11 pg. 236 and footnotes of Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah -hafizahullah- on Musannaf, Hadith: 35636)
See the full narration here.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar