Reference: Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-‘Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa. – Fatwa No.4145
Fataawa Ramadhaan – Volume 1, Page 39, Fatwa No.13
Question: Some of those who give sermons in the masaajid in this region, mention in their sermons a hadeeth narrated by Salmaan, in which the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ addressed the people on the last day of Sha’baan…and so on the hadeeth continues. Some brothers objected to this hadeeth and announced to the people that: “The hadeeth of Salmaan is fabricated”, and also [the hadeeth]:
«Whoever satisfied [the needs of] a fasting person, then Allaah will quench his thirst by giving him a drink from my pond, such that he will not feel thirsty thereafter until he enters Paradise».
And also [the hadeeth]:
«Whoever eases [the burden] of his slave, then Allaah forgives him and releases him from the Hell Fire».
Then the brother said: “Indeed these words are a lie attributed to the Messenger ﷺ, and whoever attributes a lie to the Messenger will find his seat in the Hell Fire… and so on the hadeeth continues. I am hopeful of a fatwa from your excellency regarding the authenticity of this brother’s statement, whether it is correct or incorrect, [and] may Allaah protect and preserve you.
Response: “Ibn Khuzaymah has reported the narration of Salmaan in his collection of the authentic Prophetic narrations. He said in his book, “Chapter regarding the merits of the month of Ramadhaan, if the report is true.” After that he said, “‘Alee Ibn Hajar as-Sa’dee informed us that Yoosuf Ibn Ziyaad informed us that Hammaam Ibn Yahya informed us on behalf of ‘Alee Ibn Zayd Ibn Jad’aan, who reported on behalf of Sa’eed Ibn al-Musayyib, who reported on behalf of Salmaan who said: The Messenger of Allaah, ﷺ spoke to us on the last day of Sha’baan and said:
«O people, a great month has overshadowed you, a blessed month, a month that has in it a night that is better than a thousand nights. Allaah has made fasting in it obligatory and its night prayers voluntary. In it, whoever does an act, however small, is like a person who has performed an obligatory act during any other month. Furthermore, whoever performs an obligatory act is like a person who has performed seventy obligatory acts during any other month. It is a month of patience and the reward of patience is Paradise. A month of merit, in which the blessings of a believer increase. In it, whoever feeds a person who has fasted, will have his sins forgiven and freedom from the Hell Fire. He will get a reward similar to the reward of the person who has fasted and it will not reduce the reward of the person who has fasted».
They said, not all of us get a chance to feed a person who has Fasted. He said:
«Allaah will give this reward to whoever feeds a person who has Fasted, even if he feeds him a date or a drink of water or a mixture of milk and water. It is a month, the beginning of which is mercy, the middle of which is forgiveness and the end of which is freedom from the Fire. Whoever comforts a slave, Allaah will forgive him and free him from the Fire. Therefore increase in it four points: Two points will make your Lord pleased with you and two points you cannot do with out. As for the two points which will make your Lord pleased with you; the declaration that there is nothing worthy of worship except Allaah and to seek His forgiveness. As for the two points you cannot do with out; is to ask Allaah for Paradise and seek His protection from the Fire. Whoever satisfies the appetite of a person who has Fasted, Allaah will quench his thirst by giving him a drink from my pond. After that, the individual will not feel thirsty until he enters Paradise».
In the chain of this narration’s reporters; ‘Alee Ibn Zayd Ibn Jad’aan is considered weak because his memorisation was deficient, the chain of narrators also has Yoosuf Ibn Ziyaad al-Basree and he is disclaimed from narrations, in addition, there is Hammaam Ibn Yahya Ibn Deenaar al-‘Awdee. Ibn Hajar mentioned in his book that he is trustworthy but may report from his imagination.
Based on this: The narration with this chain of narration is not a lie, but it is weak. In addition, the narrations on the merit of the month are many, established and authentic.
And with Allaah lies all the success, and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his family and his companions.
