Question:
Is this Hadith authentic and what is the meaning of افضل?
عن عمر، رضي الله عنه قال: كنت مع النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم جالسا فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: أتدرون أي أهل الإيمان أفضل إيمانا؟ قالوا يا رسول الله الملائكة؟ قال: هم كذلك ويحق ذلك لهم وما يمنعهم وقد أنزلهم الله المنزلة التي أنزلهم بها بل غيرهم قالوا: يا رسول الله فالأنبياء الذين أكرمهم الله تعالى بالنبوة والرسالة؟ قال: هم كذلك ويحق لهم ذلك وما يمنعهم وقد أنزلهم الله المنزلة التي أنزلهم بها بل غيرهم قال: قلنا: فمن هم يا رسول الله؟ قال: أقوام يأتون من بعدي في أصلاب الرجال فيؤمنون بي ولم يروني ويجدون الورق المعلق فيعملون بما فيه فهؤلاء أفضل أهل الإيمان إيمانا
Answer:
Imam Hakim (rahimahullah) and others have recorded this narration. ‘Allamah Dhahabi (rahimahullah) and Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahumallah) have declared a narrator in the chain of Hakim as weak.
(Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 4 pg. 85-86 & Al Matalibul ‘Aliyah, Hadith: 2922. Also see Musnad Bazzar, hadith: 323-324 & Musnad Abi Ya’la, hadith: 160)
However, the Hadith is well corroborated. See a corroborating narration here.
In light of these supporting narrations, several Hadith Masters have declared the narration reliable, and suitable to quote.
(Refer to: Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah’s (hafizahullah) footnotes on Tadribur Rawi, vol.4 pg.346-347).
Translation of the Hadith in question
Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) says: “I was once seated with Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) when he said, ‘Do you know whose Iman is the most [amazing]? They [The Sahabah] replied, ‘The angels’. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘They are, but rightfully so as what prevents them when Allah has afforded them the rank that He has afforded them?’ Rather, [I am speaking] about others.’ They said, O Messenger of Allah, Then the Ambiya whom Allah has blessed with Nubuwwah and Prophethood.’ Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘They are, but rightfully so as what prevents them when Allah has afforded them the rank that He has afforded them?’ Rather, [I am speaking] about others.’ We [The sahabah] said, ‘Then who are they O Messenger of Allah?’ He replied, ‘People who will come after me, believe in me despite not seeing me. They will find pages [referring to the Quran] and practice upon what it contains, these people have the most [amazing] Iman.’”
Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) explains that the words ‘أفضل’ in this Hadith does not mean ‘best’. [Rather it means amazing/surprising] as in other Hadiths.
(Refer: Al Amalil Mutlaqah, pg. 39)
Also see the explanation here
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar