Question:
What is the status of this hadith?
مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ وَأَتْبَعَهُ سِتًّا مِنْ شَوَّالٍ خَرَجَ مِنْ ذُنُوبِهِ كَيَوْمِ وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ
“Whoever fasts in Ramadhan followed by six days in Syawal, then all of his sins will be erased just like when he was just born by his mother.”
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the many countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Among the encouraged sunnah after Ramadhan is the six days of sunnah fasting in the month of Syawal. This is clearly stated in a hadith where the great benefits are mentioned, of which the rewards are the same as a person who fasted for an entire year. This is in accordance with a hadith from Abu Ayub al-Ansari RA, where the Prophet PBUH said:
مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَهُ سِتًّا مِنْ شَوَّالٍ كَانَ كَصِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ
“Whoever fasts during the month of Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal will be (rewarded) as if he had fasted the entire year.”
Sahih Muslim (1164)
According to the above question, the hadith is narrated by Imam al-Thabarani in his book:
- From Ibn Umar RA, it is said that the Prophet PBUH said:
مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ وَأَتْبَعَهُ سِتًّا مِنْ شَوَّالٍ خَرَجَ مِنْ ذُنُوبِهِ كَيَوْمِ وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ
“Whoever fasts in Ramadhan followed by six days in Syawal, then all of his sins will be erased just like when he was just born by his mother.”
Narrated by al-Thabarani in al-Mu’jam al-Awsath (8622)
Here, we include the opinions of scholars regarding the status of this hadith. Among them is Imam al-Thabarani said that Maslamah bin Ali is a lone narrator of this hadith. (See al-Mu’jam al-Awsath, 8/275). Imam al-Haithami states that Maslamah bin Ali is a weak narrator. (See Majma’ al-Zawaid, 3/187). Furthermore, according to Imam al-Dhimyathi, the sanad (chain of narrators) is not authentic. (See al-Muttajir al-Rabih, 138). Syeikh al-Albani ruled this hadith from Ibn Umar is fake. (See Silsilah Ahadith al-Dhaifah, 11/309)
After analysing the opinions of scholars, we are inclined to state that the hadith as unauthentic. Hence, we are prohibited from claiming that it is from the Prophet PBUH, unless if also we also explain the real status of the hadith. The reason is, the prohibition of associating unauthentic hadith to the Prophet PBUH is a great sin.
As for the benefit of the removal of sins as if he is just born is stated in other authentic hadiths regarding the worship of hajj.
- From Abu Hurairah RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
مَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ، فَلَمْ يَرْفُثْ، وَلَمْ يَفْسُقْ، رَجَعَ كَمَا وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ
“Whoever performs the pilgrimage to this House, and does not Yarfuth (utter any obscenity or commit sin), will go back as (on the day) his mother bore him.”
Musnad Ahmad (10274) [The sanad for this hadith is authentic according to the conditions of al-Bukhari and Muslim according to Syeikh Syu’aib al-Arna’outh]
Conclusion
As a conclusion, the hadith of Ibn Umar RA is unauthentic and we are prohibited to convey and spread it to others. Or even claiming it to be from the Prophet PBUH. The reason is, the punishment for those who lie on the name of the Prophet PBUH is he will end up in hellfire. Lastly, may Allah SWT protect our tongues from conveying and spreading unauthentic hadiths. Amin.
Wallahua’lam.