Q: Is this hadeeth saheeh, and what does it mean: “Do not write anything from me, and whoever writes anything but the Qur’aan, let him erase it”? Also Abu Bakr (Radhiyallahu Anhu) at one point was not sure whether to keep what he knows of hadiths or not. He had collected 500 hadiths during very long companionship with the prophet Muhammed(Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), but he could not sleep the night until he burned them”. Could you please explain this to me.
A: This was the initial command of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) when revelation had commenced. Later on Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) had allowed writing his wordings and teachings.
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
Answered by:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)