Fabricated Hadith: 'My Sahabah are like stars; whomever you follow, you will be guided'


Question:

I heard a Hadith which was always repeated on the television during Ramadan of the year 1993. It was the first time for me to hear it and I did not find it in any reference. Some brothers told me that it has no origin. Its wording is as follows: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “My Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet) are like (guiding) stars; whomever you follow, you will be guided (to the right path).” Is this a Hadith Sahih (authentic)? If it is so, who are its narrators?

Answer:

This Hadith is Mawdu’ (fabricated). It was narrated by Ibn ‘Abdul-Bar in (Jami’ Al-‘Ilm) on the authority of Sallam ibn Sulaym who said: “This Hadith was reported as Marfu’ (a Hadith narrated from the Prophet with a connected or disconnected chain of narration) on the authority of Al-Harith ibn Ghasin from Al-A’Mash from Abu Sufyan from Jabir.”

Ibn ‘Abdul-Bar said: “This Sanad (chain of narrators) does not serve as evidence, because Al-Harith ibn Ghasin is Majhul (unknown).”

However, its ‘Illah (defect) is graver when considering that Sallam ibn Sulaym was one of the narrators. He was Sallam ibn Sulaym Al-Tawil; and he was known as Ibn Sulayman and Ibn Sulaym.

Imam Ahmad said about him that the Hadiths he used to narrate were Munkar (rejected Hadith reported by a weak narrator whose narration conflicts with an authentic Hadith).

Ibn Hibban said about him that he narrated Mawdu’ Hadith. The Hadith was reported by Ibn Hazm in Al-Ahkam and he commented on it, saying: “It is an invalid narration, because Abu Sufyan is Da’if (there is weakness in his narration), Al-Harith ibn Ghasin is Abu Wahb Al-Thaqafi, and Sallam ibn Sulayman used to narrate Mawdu` Hadith, and this is definitely one of them.”

May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.

Muftis
  • Shaykh Abdul-Aziz ibn Baz , Shaykh Abdul-Aziz Aal al-Shaykh , Shaykh Abdullah ibn Ghudayyan , Shaykh Salih Fawzan , Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd
  • Estimated reading time :
    1 Min read
  • Source:
    Fatawa Al-Lajnah Ad-Da'imah no. 12464-4
  • Tafsir   Hadiths   Mawdu-daif
  • Updated :
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