Question
Kindly provide the reference and authenticity of the following narration:
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) has said: ‘Verily there were [many] prophets belonging to Allah [Ta’ala]; all of them used to hunt or search for prey. Regarding congregational prayer, your love for [wanting to attend] the congregation as well as its people, and your love for the remembrance of Allah [Ta’ala] and its people will suffice you when you are absent in search of sustenance [i.e. due to having to provide for yourself as well as your family]. Seek that which is lawful [halal] for [both] yourself as well as your dependents/family, for indeed that is striving in the path of Allah. And know that the assistance of Allah [Ta’ala] lies in commerce which is upright and pure [full of honesty, righteousness, piety, etc.].
Answer
This is the end of a lengthy narration which Imam Tabarani and others (rahimahumullah) have recorded on the authority of Sayyiduna Safwan ibn Umayyah (radiyallahu ‘anhu). Imam Ibn Majah (rahimahullah) has recorded the beginning portion of this lengthy narration in his Sunan.
(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 2613, and Mu’jamul Kabir, Number: 7342)
‘Allamahs Busiri and Ibn Hajar (rahimahumallah) have both graded the chain of this narration as weak.
(Misbahuz Zujajah, Hadith: 877, and Al-Isabah, vol. 4 pg. 402, Number: 5531; Also see: Al-Isabah, vol. 4 pg. 557, Number: 5956, and Hashiyatus Sindhi ‘Ala Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 2613)
‘Allamah Haythami (rahimahullah) has declared one of the narrators to be very weak (متروك).
(Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 4 pg. 29; Also see Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 2 pgs. 47-48)
Imam Dhahabi (rahimahullah) has graded the chain of this narration as extremely weak (سنده واه), and has even considered this narration to be a fabrication.
(Tajridu Asma-is Sahabah, Number: 4491, and Mizanul I’itidal, vol. 5 pg. 135, Number: 9060)
The Hadith should, therefore not be quoted.
And Allah Ta’ala knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Farhan Shariff
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar