Question
Is there any Hadith which says that love for Abu Bakr and Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) is a part of faith (Iman)?
Kindly provide the Arabic text also with the reference.
Answer
This narration is recorded in a few Hadith collections. Among them are:
1) Fadailus Sahabah of Imam Ahmad –mursalan-:
‘Ali ibn Yazid reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Loving Abu Bakr and ‘Umar is [part of] Iman and hating them is disbelief.”
(Fadailus Sahabah, Hadith: 487)
The Arabic text of this version is as follows:
حب أبي بكر وعمر إيمان، وبغضهما كفر
2) Imam Ibn ‘Adiy (rahimahullah) and Imam Ibn ‘Asakir on the authority of Sayyiduna Anas ibn Malik (radiyallahu ‘anhu):
Sayyiduna Anas ibn Malik (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reported that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Loving Abu Bakr and ‘Umar is [part of] Iman and hating them is hypocrisy.”
(Al Kamil, vol. 4 pg. 400/401, number: 6454, Tarikh Dimashq, vol. 30 pg. 143-144. Also see: Mizanul I’tidal, vol. 1 pg. 577, number: 2291)
The Arabic text is as follows:
حب أبي بكر وعمر إيمان وبغضهما نفاق
3) Imam Ibn ‘Asakir on the authority of Sayyiduna Jabir ibn ‘Abdillah (radiyallahu ‘anhuma):
Sayyiduna Jabir ibn ‘Abdillah (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) reported that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Loving Abu Bakr and ‘Umar is part of Iman and hating them is part of disbelief.”
(Tarikh Dimashq, vol. 30 pg. 144 and vol. 44 pg. 222)
The Arabic text is as follows:
حب أبي بكر وعمر من الإيمان وبغضهما من الكفر
These chains vary in their degrees of weakness, however, they do corroborate each other to a certain extent.
(Refer: Faydul Qadir, Hadith: 3665 and 3668, At Taysir, vol. 1 pg. 492 and pg. 493, As Sirajul Munir, vol. 2 pg. 220, Al Mudawi, Hadith: 1543 and 1544. Also see: Iqtidaus Siratil Mustaqim of Hafiz Ibn Taymiyyah, pg. 390-391, Maktabatur Rushd edition)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar