A False Story
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Fatwa No. ( 21412 )
Q: The Shaykh Muhammad Zakariya (may Allah have mercy on him) is one of the most famous scholars in India and Pakistan , especially among the members of the Tablighi Jama'ah . He has several books, including *Fada'il al-A'mal* (Virtues of Deeds), which is read in the religious circles of the Tablighi Jama'ah . The members of this group consider it like (Sahih al-Bukhari ) and others. I was one of them. While reading this book, I found some of the narrated stories difficult to understand and believe. Therefore, I sent this to your committee to resolve my issue. One of these stories is narrated by Sayyid Ahmad al-Rifai , who says: After performing the obligatory Hajj, when he visited the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and recited the following verses while standing before the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), he said:
After reciting these verses, the right hand of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came out, and I kissed it (al-Hawi) by al-Suyuti . It is mentioned that ninety thousand Muslims were witnessing this great event and were honored by visiting the blessed hand, including the Shaykh Abdul Qadir al-Jilani (may Allah have mercy on him), who was present at that place in the Noble Prophet's Mosque (the magnificent structure). In light of this story, I would like to ask you:
1- Does this story have a basis, or is it not true? 2- What is your opinion of the book (al-Hawi) by al-Suyuti , in which this story is established? 3- If this story is not authentic, is it permissible to pray behind an imam who narrates this story and believes it to be authentic? Is his imamate permissible or not? 4- Is it permissible to read such books in the religious circles in mosques, where this book is recited in the mosques of Britain for the Tablighi Jama'ah , and it has great fame in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , especially in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah , where the author of this book lived for a long time in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah . I ask the honorable Shaykhs to provide us with a sufficient and detailed answer, so that I can translate it into local languages and distribute it to my companions, colleagues, and the rest of the Muslims I speak with on this topic?
A: This story is false and has no basis in truth; because the principle regarding a dead person, whether he is a Prophet or otherwise, is that he does not move in his grave by extending a hand or otherwise. So what is said that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) extended his hand to al-Rifai or others is not correct. Rather, it is an illusion and imagination with no basis in truth, and it is not permissible to believe it. And he did not
extend his hand (peace and blessings be upon him) to Abu Bakr nor to 'Umar nor to any other of the Companions, let alone to others. One should not be deceived by the mention of al-Suyuti of this story in his book: (al-Hawi); because al-Suyuti in his writings, as the scholars said about him: is a night gatherer who mentions the chaff and the grain. It is not permissible to pray behind one who believes in the authenticity of this story; because he is a believer in superstitions and has a flawed creed. It is not permissible to read the book (Fada'il al-A'mal) or others that contain superstitions and fabricated stories about people in mosques or elsewhere; because of the misguidance of people and the spread of superstitions among them. We ask Allah (Mighty and Majestic) to guide the Muslims to know the truth and act upon it. He is the All-Hearing, the Responsive. And may Allah send prayers upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions and peace.
Q: The Shaykh Muhammad Zakariya (may Allah have mercy on him) is one of the most famous scholars in India and Pakistan , especially among the members of the Tablighi Jama'ah . He has several books, including *Fada'il al-A'mal* (Virtues of Deeds), which is read in the religious circles of the Tablighi Jama'ah . The members of this group consider it like (Sahih al-Bukhari ) and others. I was one of them. While reading this book, I found some of the narrated stories difficult to understand and believe. Therefore, I sent this to your committee to resolve my issue. One of these stories is narrated by Sayyid Ahmad al-Rifai , who says: After performing the obligatory Hajj, when he visited the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and recited the following verses while standing before the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), he said:
After reciting these verses, the right hand of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came out, and I kissed it (al-Hawi) by al-Suyuti . It is mentioned that ninety thousand Muslims were witnessing this great event and were honored by visiting the blessed hand, including the Shaykh Abdul Qadir al-Jilani (may Allah have mercy on him), who was present at that place in the Noble Prophet's Mosque (the magnificent structure). In light of this story, I would like to ask you:
1- Does this story have a basis, or is it not true? 2- What is your opinion of the book (al-Hawi) by al-Suyuti , in which this story is established? 3- If this story is not authentic, is it permissible to pray behind an imam who narrates this story and believes it to be authentic? Is his imamate permissible or not? 4- Is it permissible to read such books in the religious circles in mosques, where this book is recited in the mosques of Britain for the Tablighi Jama'ah , and it has great fame in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , especially in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah , where the author of this book lived for a long time in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah . I ask the honorable Shaykhs to provide us with a sufficient and detailed answer, so that I can translate it into local languages and distribute it to my companions, colleagues, and the rest of the Muslims I speak with on this topic?
A: This story is false and has no basis in truth; because the principle regarding a dead person, whether he is a Prophet or otherwise, is that he does not move in his grave by extending a hand or otherwise. So what is said that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) extended his hand to al-Rifai or others is not correct. Rather, it is an illusion and imagination with no basis in truth, and it is not permissible to believe it. And he did not
extend his hand (peace and blessings be upon him) to Abu Bakr nor to 'Umar nor to any other of the Companions, let alone to others. One should not be deceived by the mention of al-Suyuti of this story in his book: (al-Hawi); because al-Suyuti in his writings, as the scholars said about him: is a night gatherer who mentions the chaff and the grain. It is not permissible to pray behind one who believes in the authenticity of this story; because he is a believer in superstitions and has a flawed creed. It is not permissible to read the book (Fada'il al-A'mal) or others that contain superstitions and fabricated stories about people in mosques or elsewhere; because of the misguidance of people and the spread of superstitions among them. We ask Allah (Mighty and Majestic) to guide the Muslims to know the truth and act upon it. He is the All-Hearing, the Responsive. And may Allah send prayers upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions and peace.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.