Kindly inform me if this is a Hadith?
“Spend time in the company of those who repent for they have the softest hearts”
Answer
This has been cited as a Hadith of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) in certain non Primary Hadith sources. However, ‘Allamah ‘Iraqi (rahimahullah) says he has not come across this as a Hadith of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) [with a full chain].
(Al Mughni ‘An Hamlil Asfar, Hadith: 3631)
Imams Ahmad, Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah, Ibn Abid Dunya and Imam Abu Nu’aym (rahimahumullah) have recorded this as the statement of Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu).
(Az Zuhd of Imam Ahmad, Hadith: 631, Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 35606, At Tawbah, Hadith: 144, Hilyatul Awliya, vol. 1 pg. 51)
This narration should therefore be quoted as the statement of Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu).
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar