Question:
Assalamualaikum, is the hadith which mentioned that when a scholar passes through a cemetery, then the punishment of the grave is suspended for 40 days authentic?
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam.
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the 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.
Referring to the above question, we must ensure the authenticity of a certain hadith before we relate it to the Prophet PBUH and spreading it to others. The reason is relating something that is unauthentic to the Prophet PBUH, then it is included as a deception in the name of the honoured Prophet PBUH and this action can lead a person into hellfire.
Matan of the Hadith
After we observe and analyze the related hadith meant, we found the matan of the hadith as the following:
إِنَّ الْعَالِمَ وَالْمُتَعَلِّمَ إِذَا مَرَّا عَلَى قَرْيَةٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَرْفَعُ الْعَذَابَ عَنْ مَقْبَرَةِ تِلْكَ الْقَرْيَةِ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْمًا
“Indeed, scholars and those who are learning, when they pass through a village, then Allah SWT will suspend the punishment of the grave which is in the village for 40 days.”
The Status of the Hadith
After analysing the hadith, we found that the hadith is fake and of no origin. Among the scholars who evaluated the hadith as fake are:
- Imam al-Suyuthi said this hadith is of no origin as stated by Syeikh Mulla Ali al-Qari. (See al-Mashnu’ fi Ma’rifah al-Hadith al-Maudhu’, 65)
- Seyikh al-Qauqaji evaluated the hadith is fake. (See al-Lu’lu’ al-Marshu’, 53/1)
- Syeikh al-‘Ajlouni said the hadith is of no origin (fake). (See Kasyf al-Khafa’, 221/1)
- Syeikh Mulla Ali al-Qari ruled the hadith is fake. (See Asrar al-Marfu’ah, 123/1)
Conclusion
To conclude, determining the authenticity of a certain hadith is of utmost importance for the Prophet PBUH warns those who lie about him and his hadith. From Anas bin Malik RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
مَنْ تَعَمَّدَ عَلَيَّ كَذِبًا، فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ
"Whoever tells a lie against me intentionally, then (surely) let him occupy his seat in Hell-fire."
Muttafaqun ‘alaih. Sahih al-Bukhari (108) and Sahih Muslim (2)
Lastly, may Allah SWT give us understanding in this religion and protect our tongues from the mistake of relating something from the Prophet PBUH when it is not so. Amin.
Wallahua’lam.