The Authenticity of the Hadith Regarding Entering Paradise and Hellfire Through a Fly

Question:
Your Eminence the Shaykh! The questioner says: It was reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: “A man entered Paradise because of a fly, and a man entered Hellfire because of a fly.” Your Eminence the Shaykh! What is the authenticity of this hadith? And how does he enter Hellfire when he is coerced into this matter?

Answer:
There is no harm in the hadith; its chain of narration is authentic. Its meaning is that he entered Paradise because of a fly, and he entered Hellfire because of a fly. The hadith explains that a man passed by a man who had an idol and could not find anything to offer to it. The man in the hadith said, “Bring something closer?” He said, “I have nothing closer.” They said, “Bring him a fly.” Their intention was that he would show them agreement with his state of hatred and shirk (associating partners with Allah). When he agreed and they thought he was offering the fly, the point is that he complied. He excused himself by saying he was unable, so he became a disbeliever because he worshipped other than Allah, affirmed the worship of other than Allah, and was pleased with it. As for the other man, the one who affirmed the oneness of Allah, when they said, “Bring something,” he said, “I would never bring anything to anyone who has witnessed Allah.” So they cut off his nostrils, and he entered Paradise. The first man was not coerced; rather, they said to him, and he answered. It is not called coercion. They said to him, “Bring it,” and he answered. He did not say no and they did not threaten him; he was in agreement without any threat.