Question
Please explain whether the following narration is reliable:
عن خالد بن معدان رحمه الله قال: إذا رأيتم عمودا من نار من قبل المشرق في شهر رمضان في السماء فأعدوا من الطعام ما استطعتم فإنها سنة جوع
Khalid Ibn Ma’dan (rahimahullah) has said: ” If you see a column of fire from the East, in the month of Ramadan, in the sky, then prepare as much food as you can, for it is (going to be) a year of starvation (famine).”
Answer
This narration has been recorded by Imam Tabarani (rahimahullah) on the authority of Sayyiduna ‘Ubadah ibn Samit (radiyallahu ‘anhu) as a marfu’ Hadith (i.e with the wording attributed to Nabi sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam).
(Al-Mu’jamul Awsat, Hadith: 371; Also see: Kitabul Fitan of Nu’aym ibn Hammad, Hadith: 645)
‘Allamah Munawi (rahimahullah) has mentioned many supporting texts for this Hadith and ‘Allamah Azizi (rahimahullah) has even graded it as sound (Hasan).
(Faydhul Qadir, Hadith: 645, As-Sirajul Munir, vol. 1 pg. 127)
And Allah Ta’ala knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Farhan Shariff
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar