Question
I would like to know whether the following narration is authentic:
لا يزال الناس بخير ما أتاهم العلم من أصحاب محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم، ومن أكابرهم، فإذا جاء العلم من قبل أصاغرهم فذاك حين هلكوا
Answer
This narration is recorded as the statement of Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiyallahu ‘anhu) in Musannaf ‘Abdur Razzaq and Al Mu’jamul Kabir of Imam Tabarani (rahimahullah).
The narration has been recorded with a few chains. ‘Allamah Haythami (rahimahullah) has declared the narrators of one of these chains credible (muwatthaqun).
(Musannaf ‘Abdur Razzaq, Hadith: 20446, 20483, Al Mu’jamul Kabir, Hadith: 8589-8590-8591-8592. Refer: Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 1 pg. 135)
Translation
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said: “People will remain on goodness as long as their source of knowledge is the Sahabah (radiyallahu ‘anhum) and their seniors [i.e. qualified individuals]. Once their knowledge comes from their juniors [i.e. unqualified individuals], that is when they will be destroyed.
(Refer: Jami’u Bayanil ‘Ilmi Wa Fadlihi, Hadith: 1060)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar