What is the status of this narration
حدثنا عبد بن حميد حدثنا حسين بن علي الجعفي قال سمعت حمزة الزيات عن أبي المختار الطائي عن ابن أخي الحارث الأعور عن الحارث قال: مررت في المسجد فإذا الناس يخوضون في الأحاديث فدخلت على علي فقلت يا أمير المؤمنين ألا ترى أن الناس قد خاضوا في الأحاديث قال وقد فعلوها قلت نعم قال أما إني قد سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول ألا إنها ستكون فتنة فقلت ما المخرج منها يا رسول الله قال كتاب الله فيه نبأ ما كان قبلكم وخبر ما بعدكم وحكم ما بينكم وهو الفصل ليس بالهزل من تركه من جبار قصمه الله ومن ابتغى الهدى في غيره أضله الله وهو حبل الله المتين وهو الذكر الحكيم وهو الصراط المستقيم هو الذي لا تزيغ به الأهواء ولا تلتبس به الألسنة ولا يشبع منه العلماء ولا يخلق على كثرة الرد ولا تنقضي عجائبه هو الذي لم تنته الجن إذ سمعته حتى قالوا إنا سمعنا قرآنا عجبا يهدي إلى الرشد فآمنا به من قال به صدق ومن عمل به أجر ومن حكم به عدل ومن دعا إليه هدى إلى صراط مستقيم خذها إليك يا أعور
Answer
This narration is considered weak, but suitable for encouraging people to hold on to Quranic recital and its teachings.
(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 2906 & Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 30629 with Shaykh ‘Awwamah’s footnotes.)
Translation
Al Harith Al A’war (radiyallahu ‘anhu) narrates:
“I passed by the Masjid when the people were absorbed in story-telling. So I entered upon ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu) and said: ‘O Commander of the Believers! Do you not see the people are becoming engrossed in story-telling?’
He said: ‘Have they really been consumed with it?’ I said: “Yes.’
He said: ‘I heard Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) saying: “Indeed there will come a time of fitnah” So I said: “What is the way out from it O Messenger of Allah?”
He said: “Allah’s book. In it is news for what happened before you, and information about what comes after you, and judgement for what happens between you. It is the Criterion without jest. Whoever among the oppressive abandons it, Allah crushes him, and whoever seeks guidance from other than it, Allah leaves him to stray. It is the firm rope of Allah, it is the wise admonition, it is the straight path, and it is the one that the desires can not distort, nor will the tongues be confused by it. The scholars will never have enough of it, and it shall not become dull/old from reciting it much. Its marvels are never ending. When the Jinns heard it, they did not hesitate to say about it: ‘Verily, we have heard a wonderful recitation! It guides to the right path, and we have believed therein.’ Whoever speaks according to it then he has said the truth, and whoever acts according to it, is rewarded. Whoever judges by it, has judged justly, and whoever invites to it, guides to the straight path.”
Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radiyallahu’anhu) then said: ‘Take this O A’war!’.”
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar