In the Name of Allaah…

I received a Hadith whose authenticity I  want to verify: The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “O Community of Muhammad! By the Being Who has sent me with Truth, Allah cannot accept the charity of those persons whose relatives are in want of his kindness and help, and he distributes it among others, leaving them. By the Being in Whose power is my life, on the Day of Judgement Allah will not look at such a man.” [Tibraani]

Dha’eef (weak) – It was collected by At-Tabaraanee [1], who mentioned that ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Aamir al-Aslamee was alone in reporting it from az-Zuhree.  Al-Haythamee indexed it [2], saying: ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Aamir al-Aslamee is in it (the chain), and he is dha’eef (not reliable as a narrator).  Aboo Haatim said, “He is not abandoned.” [3] And the rest of the people in the chain are precise and reliable narrators. [End of al-Haythamee’s words]

Also it can be noted that the translator, aside from apparently not knowing how to pronounce “At-Tabaraanee” (the name of one of the imaams of hadeeth), or at least checking the book Majma’ az-Zawaa’id for rulings on hadeeths from at-Tabaraanee’s books, he/she also chose to explain away the mention of Allaah’s Hand in the hadeeth, so instead of saying, “I swear by the One in Whose Hand is my soul…” he/she translates, “By the Being in Whose Power is my life…”  This indicates deviance in aqeedah.

This is forcing the deviant beliefs of the Ash’aree Sect [4] into the translation of a hadeeth, which is absolutely unacceptable, and a clear violation of the trust of conveying knowledge.

Furthermore, he/she chose to translate that Allaah does not accept such charity as “Allaah cannot accept…” and this wording contains false beliefs about Allaah, Who is capable of all things.  The wording of the hadeeth is simply that Allaah doesn’t accept it.  Incapability is something we firmly reject being applied to Allaah. [5]

Thus, I would certainly not recommend this translator or the use of whatever online service that sent you this to learn about the hadeeth of the Messenger (sallallaahu alayhe wa sallam).  And Allaah knows best.

Written by: Moosaa Richardson

FOOTNOTES:

[1] al-Mu’jam al-Owsat (#8828, 8/346)

[2] Majma’ az-Zawaa’id (3/117)

[3] Laysa bi matrook ( ليس بمتروك ) – “He is not abandonded,” meaning: He is unreliable (dha’eef), yet he is not a liar or severely confused, in the opinion of the critic.  The use of this phrase indicates that some of the other critics have said he should be abandoned.  So while it may seem like a kind of defense or even support, it is a clear indication that the narrator is between “dha’eef” (unreliable) and “dha’eef jiddan” (very unreliable) according to the body of critics, and this specific critic believes him to be closer to just “dha’eef”.

[4] For a clear and detailed exposition of the deviant beliefs of the Ash’aree Cult, refer to Exemplary Principles of Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (pp.187-218).

[5] Refer to Exemplary Principles (pp.70-72).