The one who does not care about the Muslims is not one of them

This hadeeth was narrated by a number of the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them), but the isnads (chains of transmission) are all munkar (denounced) and very da’eef (weak). Details of this follow: 

-1-

It was narrated from Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 

“The one whose main concern is this world has nothing to do with Allah, and whoever does not fear Allah has nothing to do with Allah, and whoever does not care about the Muslims is not one of them.” 

This hadeeth was narrated via several isnads from Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him). 

(i)

From Shaqeeq ibn Salamah from Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him): 

It was narrated by al-Hakim in al-Mustadrak (4/352) and Ibn al-Jawzi in al-Mawdoo’at (3/132) via Ishaq ibn Bishr, Sufyan al-Thawri narrated to us, from al-A’mash, from Shaqeeq. 

This isnad is very da’eef and munkar because of Ishaq ibn Bishr. In his biography in Meezan al-I’tidal (1/184) it says: Ibn Hibban said: This hadeeth is not acceptable. Al-Daraqutni said: He is a liar whose hadeeth are rejected (matrook). He narrated seriously wrong haadeeths from Ibn Ishaq, Ibn Jurayj and al-Thawri. End quote. Hence al-Dhahabi said in al-Talkhees: I think the report is fabricated (mawdoo’). End quote. Ibn al-Jawzi said: This hadeeth is not saheeh (authentic), and the one who is accused is Ishaq. End quote. It was classed as da’eef by al-‘Iraqi in Takhreej al-Ihya (2/180). 

(ii)

From Abu’l-‘Aliyah from Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him). 

This was narrated by al-Tabarani in al-Mu’jam al-Awsat (7/270) and al-Sagheer (2/131), and from him by Abu Nu’aym in Akhbar Isbahan (5/252), via ‘Abd-Allah ibn Abi Ja’far al-Razi, from his father, from al-Rabee’, from Abu’l-‘Aliyah. Al-Tabarani said: He only narrated this hadeeth from Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) with this isnad, and ‘Abd-Allah ibn Abi Ja’far al-Razi was the only one who narrated it. 

This isnad is da’eef and munkar. 

The narration of ‘Abd-Allah from Abu Ja’far is dubious and not acceptable.  

See the biography of ‘Abd-Allah ibn Abi Ja’far in Tahdheeb al-Tahdheeb (12/57) and (5/177). 

It has a third isnad that was mentioned by al-Suyooti in al-La a li’ al-Masnoo’ah (2/266). Its isnad was classed as da’eef jiddan (very weak) by al-Shaykh al-Albani, because of the dubious narrators it contains as well as some unknown narrators. 

-2-

It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allah ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 

“Whoever starts his day caring about something other than Allah has nothing to do with Allah, and whoever does not care about the Muslims is not one of them.” 

Narrated by al-Hakim in al-Mustadrak (4/356) and Abu ‘Abd-Allah al-Daqqaq in Majlis Imla fi Ruyat Allah (no. 396) and Ibn Bashran in al-Amali (no. 395). 

Via Ishaq ibn Bishr, Muqatil ibn Sulayman narrated to us, from Hammad, from Ibraheem, from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Yazeed, from Ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him) in a marfoo’ report (one attributed to the Prophet). 

This isnad is also munkar. 

We have mentioned above the scholars’ comments about Ishaq ibn Bishr. Hence al-Dhahabi said in Talkhees al-Mustadrak: Ishaq and Muqatil are not thiqah (trustworthy) and not honest. 

-3-

It was narrated from Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 

“The one who starts his day with his main concern being worldly affairs has nothing to do with Allah, and whoever does not care about the Muslims is not one of them, and whoever willingly accepts humiliation without being forced is not one of us.” 

This was narrated by al-Tabarani in al-Mu’jam al-Awsat (1/29) via Yazeed ibn Rabee’ah, from Abu’l-Ash’ath al-San’ani from Abu ‘Uthman al-Nahdi, from Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him). He said: It was narrated only by Yazeed ibn Rabee’ah. 

This isnad is also munkar. 

It includes Yazeed ibn Rabee’ah al-Rahbi, of whom al-Bukhari said: His haadeeths are munkar (denounced). Al-Nasai said: He is matrook (rejected). See Meezan al-I’tidal (4/422). It was also classed as da’eef by al-Haythami in Majma’ al-Zawaid (10/433) and by al-‘Iraqi in Takhreej al-Ihya (2/180). 

-4- 

It was narrated from Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“Whoever starts his day caring about something other than Allah has nothing to do with Allah, and whoever does not care about the Muslims is not one of them.” 

Narrated by Ibn ‘Adiyy in al-Kamil (7/67) and al-Bayhaqi in Shu’ab al-Eeman (7/361) via Wahb ibn Rashid, Farqad al-Subkhi narrated to us, from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him). 

This includes Wahb ibn Rashid, of whom al-Daraqutni said: He is matrook. Ibn Hibban said: It is not permissible to quote it as evidence. Meezan al-I’tidal (4/352). Al-Bayhaqi said: Its isnad is da’eef. It also includes Farqad al-Subkhi who is da’eef al-hadeeth and makes a lot of mistakes. 

To conclude: the isnads of this hadeeth are all very weak (da’eef), and are not supported by the fact that there are many of them. So it is not permissible to attribute the hadeeth to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The hadeeth was classed as da’eef in all its isnads by al-Shaykh al-Albani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah (no. 309-312). 

But there is no need for it because there is a great deal of evidence in the Quran and Sunnah which calls on Muslims to love one another and show compassion towards one another, and states that brothers in faith must take care of one another. For example, Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“The believers are nothing else than brothers (in Islamic religion). So make reconciliation between your brothers, and fear Allah, that you may receive mercy.”

[al-Hujurat 49:10] 

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:“The likeness of the believers in their mutual love, mercy and compassion is that of the body; when one part of it is in pain, the rest of the body joins it in restlessness and fever.” Narrated by al-Bukhari (6011) and Muslim (2586). 

And Allah knows best.