Q: I attached a copy of a leaflet that was distributed in a Masjid (mosque) in Riyadh to the letter sent to your Eminence. This leaflet contains a Hadith related by Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (may Allah be merciful to him). I read the Hadith during my stay in the Masjid. Some attendants asked me about its degree of authenticity, so I searched for it in the narrations of Khalid ibn Al-Walid in Musnad Ahmad and others, and I could not find this Hadith. So, I found doubts in myself regarding this Hadith. Could you kindly tell us about the degree of authenticity of this Hadith, may Allah reward you with the best reward! The Hadith reads as follows: It is reported on the authority of Khalid ibn Al-Walid (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: A Bedouin came to the Messenger (peace be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah, I came to ask you about what may enrich me in this world and in the Hereafter. The Messenger (peace be upon him) said: Ask whatever you like. He said: I want to be the most knowledgeable of mankind. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Fear Allah and you will be the most knowledgeable of mankind. He said: I want to be the richest of mankind. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Be content and you will be the richest of mankind. He said: I want to be the most just of mankind. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Like for the people what you like for yourself and you will be the most just of mankind. He said: I like to be the best of mankind. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Be beneficial to mankind and you will be the best of mankind. He said: I like to be the closest of people to Allah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Mention Allah frequently and you will be the closest of people to Allah. He said: I like to have perfect Iman (Faith). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Be of good morals and your faith will become perfect. (Part No. 4; Page No. 452) He said: I like to be of the good-doers. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Worship Allah as if you see Him; if you cannot see Him, surely He sees you. He said: I like to be of the obedient. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Perform the duties enjoined by Allah and you will be of the obedient. He said: I like to meet Allah pure of sin. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Bathe yourself for purification after Janabah (major ritual impurity) and you will meet Allah pure of sin. He said: I like to be gathered on the Day of Resurrection in the light. He said: Do not do wrong to yourself or to anyone else and you will be gathered on the Day of Resurrection in the light. He said: I like that Allah would show mercy to me on the Day of Resurrection. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Show mercy to yourself and show mercy to Allah’s servants and your Lord will show mercy to you on the Day of Resurrection. He said: I like that my sins decrease. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Seek forgiveness frequently and your sins will decrease. He said: I like to be the most honorable of mankind. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Do not complain to people about anything of your concerns and you will be the most honorable of mankind. He said: I like to be the strongest of mankind. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Rely on Allah and you will be the strongest of mankind. He said: I like that Allah would expand my livelihood. He said: Keep yourself always pure and Allah will expand your livelihood. He said: I like to be one of those who are beloved by Allah and His Messenger. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Love what Allah and His Prophet love and you will be one of their beloved ones. He said: I like to be secured from the Wrath of Allah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Do not be angry at any of Allah’s creatures and you will be secured from the Wrath of Allah on the Day of Resurrection. He said: I like that my supplications be answered. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Avoid eating that which is unlawful and your supplication will be answered. He said: I like not to be put to shame by my Lord on the Day of Resurrection. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Guard your private parts from Zina (sexual intercourse outside marriage) in order not to be put to shame by your Lord on the Day of Resurrection. (Part No. 4; Page No. 453) He said: I like that my Lord would keep my sins secret on the Day of Resurrection. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Keep the sins of your brothers secret and Allah will keep yours secret on the Day of Resurrection. He said: What saves from sins? The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Tears, submission and sickness. He said: Which good deed is greatest in the Sight of Allah (Exalted be He)? The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Good manners, humility and patience in trials. He said: Which bad deed is greatest in the Sight of Allah (Exalted be He)? The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Bad manners and miserliness holding sway. He said: What appeases the Anger of the Lord in this world and in the Hereafter? The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Secret charity and maintaining the ties of kinship. He said: What puts off the fire of Hell on the Day of Resurrection? The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Showing patience in this world when faced with trials and calamities. Imam Al-Mustaghfiry said: I have not seen a Hadith more inclusive and illustrative of the merits of religion than this Hadith. Related by Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal.

A: The author of the book entitled Kanz Al-‘Ummal mentioned in Part 16 that he found this Hadith in the own handwriting of Shaykh Shams Al-Din ibn Al-Qammah in one of his compilations on the authority of Abu Al-‘Abbas Al-Mustaghfiry. He said: I traveled to Egypt seeking knowledge from Imam Abu Hamid Al-Misry. I solicited from him a Hadith narrated by Khalid ibn Al-Walid and he commanded me to fast a year. When I came back to learn the Hadith from him, he told me the Sanad (chain of narrators) of the Hadith on the authority of his Shaykhs tracing the chain back to Khalid ibn Al-Walid, who said: A man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: I am going to ask you about things related to this world and the Hereafter. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Ask whatever you like... (Part No. 4; Page No. 454)  Accordingly, it becomes evident to you that this Hadith is not Sahih (authentic) because of the unknown narrators in its chain of narration.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.