Question
What is the authenticity of the following narration?
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
‘Ali is the lord of the world and master of the Hereafter.
(Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 3 pg. 128 (4640), Tarikh Dimashq, vol. 42 pg. 292)
Answer
Imam Hakim (rahimahullah) and others have recorded this Hadith. The translation of the full narration is as follows:
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) reported that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) looked towards ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu) and said, ‘O ‘Ali! You are the leader/chief in this world and the leader in the Hereafter, your beloved is my beloved and my beloved is Allah’s beloved. Your enemy is my enemy and my enemy is Allah’s enemy. Woe to the person who hates you after me”
(Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 3 pg. 128)
‘Allamah Dhahabi (rahimahullah) has declared the text unreliable (munkar) and further states it is close to being a fabrication (ليس ببعيد من الوضع).
The narration is therefore not suitable to quote.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar