Question
What is the original reference for this Hadith in Imam Ghazali’s Revival of the Religious Sciences?
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: If a man says after entering the market the following, There is no deity but Allah, the Single, there is no partner for Him, His is the kingdom and for Him is all praise, He gives life and takes life, He is eternal and will not die, in His hands, there is good and He is powerful over all things’, Allah will reward him with thousands of merits.
Answer
This seems to be a mistranslation.
Imam Ghazali (rahimahullah) has cited the narration but the reward mentioned in the Hadith is ‘كتب الله له ألف ألف حسنة’ which translates as ‘Allah will record one million good deeds for him’
(Ihya ‘Ulumid Din, vol. 3 pg. 331. Also see: Ithafus Sadah Al Muttaqin, vol. 5 pg. 511)
The narration is recorded in Sunan Tirmidhi (Hadith: 3428-3429), Sunan Ibn Majah (Hadith: 2235) and other sources. See the full narration and references here.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar