Q 1: I heard a Hadith saying: Love the Arabic language for three (reasons): It is the language of the Qur'an, the language of Paradise, and my mother tongue. Is this Hadith Sahih (authentic)?

A: The Hadith you ask about was not related in this wording, but (Part No. 3; Page No. 245) it was related in the following wording: Love Arabs for three (reasons): I am an Arabian, Qur'an was (revealed in) Arabic, and the language of people of Paradise is Arabic. It was narrated by Al-Tabarany in his book Al-Mu`jam Al-Kabir and Al-Mu`jam Al-Awsat on the authority of Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father). It was also related by Al-Suyuty in his book Al-Durar Al-Muntathirah. However, this Hadith is extremely Da`if (weak) and some scholars of the science of Hadith deemed it as Mawdu` (fabricated), such as Abu Hatim, Al-`Uqayly, Ibn Al-Jawzy in his book Al-Mawdu`at. Al-Haythamy mentioned this Hadith in his book Majma` Al-Zawa'id and commented: "It was related by Al-Tabarany in Al-Mu`jam Al-Kabir and Al-Mu`jam Al-Awsat but he said, 'The mother tongue of the people of Paradise is Arabic.'" The Sanad (chain of narrators) of this Hadith includes Al-`Ala' ibn `Amr Al-Hanafy who is a weak narrator as unanimously agreed by scholars. Al-Dhahaby said in his book Al-Mizan: "Al-`Ala' ibn `Amr is Matruk (a narrator whose Hadith transmission was discarded due to unreliability)." Ibn Hibban said: "He is not to be taken as proof at all." Ibn Hibban mentioned the narration of Al-`Aqily of the Hadith referred to and said: "This Hadith is Mawdu`." Moreover, Al-`Aqily mentioned the chain of transmission of this Hadith and said: "It is Munkar (rejected Hadith reported by a weak narrator whose narration conflicts with an authentic Hadith), of frail text and has no reference."Therefore, the least that can be said about this Hadith is that it is extremely Da`if and cannot be used as proof or reference.