Fabricated Hadith about needing scholars in Jannah

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah Most Merciful Most Kind

Short Answer

The Hadith about people needing scholars in Jannah is fabricated according to many Hadith scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah. Amongst them; Imam Ali al-Qari, Imam al-Suyuti, Imam al-Ajluni and many others. If recent or contemporary scholars quote these narrations without presenting authenticity, then it demonstrates their weakness in the science of Hadith.

Explanation

مَنْ حَدَّثَ عَنِّي بِحَدِيثٍ يُرَى أَنَّهُ كَذِبٌ، فَهُوَ أَحَدُ الْكَاذِبِينَ

The Prophet ﷺ said: Whoever narrates a Hadith about me, which is deemed a fabrication, is one of the liars. (Sahih Muslim, Muqadimah).

We are all aware that fabricating a Hadith narration regarding the blessed Prophet ﷺ is a grave sin and has a threat of hellfire attached to it. However, carelessly spreading fabrications is also a grave matter. And it leads one to be counted amongst the liars. The narration about needing scholars in Jannah is considered a fabrication. So, such condemnation is applicable to the one who spreads it.

Therefore, the Shaykhs who spread such fabrications must retract and clarify. And if they have passed away, then their followers or students must do so. Thus, the supporters and devotees of the scholars mentioned in the question above have a duty to correct the colossal error of their Imam or teacher.

The narration

Imam Ali al-Qari mentioned the fabricated narration in detail. Other Imams simply mentioned a part of it. Ultimately, they concurred on the fact that the narration about needing scholars in Jannah is a fabrication (Mowdu). Thus, the narration must be highlighted and denounced as a fabrication wherever and whenever it comes up.

حَدِيثُ إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْجَنَّةِ لَيَحْتَاجُونَ إِلَى الْعُلَمَاءِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَذَلِكَ أَنَّهُمْ يَزُورُونَ اللَّهَ فِي كُلِّ جُمُعَة فَيَقُول تمنوا عَليّ ماشئتم فَيَلْتَفِتُونَ إِلَى الْعُلَمَاءِ فَيَقُولُونَ مَاذَا نَتَمَنَّى عَلَى رَبِّنَا فَيَقُولُونَ كَذَا وَكَذَا ذُكِرَ فِي الْمِيزَانِ أَنه مَوْضُوع. (المصنوع في معرفة الحديث الموضوع)

Hadith: Indeed, the people of Paradise will need the scholars in Paradise. That is because they will visit Allah every Friday, and He will say, “Wish of Me whatever you want.” They will turn to the scholars and say, “What should we wish of our Lord?” They will say, “This and that.” In al-Mizan it was mentioned that it is fabricated. (Imam Ali al-Qari 1014H, al-Mowdo’aat al-Sughra).

إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْجَنَّةِ لَيَحْتَاجُونَ إِلَى الْعلمَاء فِي الْجنَّة. إِلَخ. مَوْضُوع. (تذكرة الموضوعات)

The people of Paradise will need the scholars in Paradise, etc. Fabricated. (Imam Muhammad Tahir al-Fattani 986H, Tadhkiratu al-Mowdo’aat).

حديث: إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْجَنَّةِ لَيَحْتَاجُونَ إِلَى الْعُلَمَاءِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ إلخ. قال في الميزان: موضوع. (الفوائد المجموعة في الأحاديث الموضوعة)

Hadith: Indeed, the people of Paradise will need the scholars in Paradise, etc. In al-Mizan he said: Fabricated. (Imam Muhammad bin Ali al-Showkani 1250H, al-Fawaid al-Majmu’ah).

The issue

Some of the Imams that condemned the narration about needing scholars in Jannah as a fabrication mentioned the specific issue with it. Others simply pronounced a verdict. In the Nass (text) below, Imam al-Suyuti narrated from Imam Yahya bin Ma’een that Mujashi’ is a fabricator. Thus, his presence in the chain is the reason it is considered a fabrication.

قال في الميزان: هذا موضوع. ومجاشع قال فيه ابن معين: أحد الكذابين. (ذيل الآلئ المصنوعة) 

In al-Mizan he said: This is fabricated. Ibn Ma’in said about Mujashi’: He is one of the liars. (Imam Jalal al-Deen al-Suyuti 911, al-Ziyadaat ala al-Mowdu’aat).

  

وَفِيه مجاشع بن عَمْرو، قَالَ الذَّهَبِيّ فى الْمِيزَان هَذَا مَوْضُوع. (تنزيه الشريعة المرفوعة عن الأخبار الشنيعة الموضوعة)

It has Mujashi’ bin Amr. Al-Dhahabi said in al-Mizan: This is fabricated. (Imam Noorud-deen al-Kanaani 963H, Tanzih al-Sharia).

 

فِيهِ مجاشع بن عمر، قَالَ يحيى: هُوَ أحد الْكَذَّابين، وَقَالَ الذَّهَبِيّ: مَوْضُوع، ومشاجع رَاوِي كتاب الْأَهْوَال وَالْقِيَامَة، كُله كذب. (أسنى المطالب في أحاديث مختلفة المراتب)

It has Mujashi’ bin Umar. Yahya said: He is one of the liars. Al-Dhahabi said: Fabricated. And Mujashi’ is the narrator of the Book ‘al-Ahwaal wal Qiyamah, it is all a lie. (Imam Abu Abd al-Rahman al-Hut 1277H, Asna al-Matalib).

 

Concurrence

As we have seen in the Nusoos (texts) above, later Hadīth scholars concurred with earlier scholars. They all concluded that the Hadith about needing scholars in Jannah is a fabrication.

قال القاري: ذكر في الميزان أنه موضوع. (كشف الخفاء ومزيل الإلباس عما اشتهر من الأحاديث على ألسنة الناس)

Al-Qari said: In al-Mizan it was mentioned that it is fabricated. (Imam Ali al-Qari 1014H, al-Mowdo’aat al-Sughra). (Imam al-Ajluni 1162H, Kashf al-Khafa).

Extreme sin

وَمَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَيَّ مُتَعَمِّدًا، فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ

The Prophet ﷺ said: Whoever deliberately lies about me, must take his seat in the fire. (Sahih al-Bukhari, 3461).

The scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah have considered fabricating Hadith to be one of the greatest sins. This is due to the repeated threats regarding lying about Allah (Most High) and His Messenger ﷺ present in Quran and Sunnah. Carelessly spreading such fabrications is also extremely sinful.

قَالَ الْأَشْرَفُ: سَمَّاهُ كَاذِبًا لِأَنَّهُ يُعِينُ الْمُفْتَرِيَ وَيُشَارِكُهُ بِسَبَبِ إِشَاعَتِهِ، فَهُوَ كَمَنْ أَعَانَ ظَالِمًا عَلَى ظُلْمِهِ. (مرقاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح)

Al-Ashraf said: He ﷺ called him a liar because he aids the fabricator and participates with him because he spreads it (the lie). It is like someone who helps an oppressor in his tyranny. (Imam Ali al-Qari 1014H, Mirqaat al-Mafateeh).

Therefore, Muslims who have spread the narration about people in Paradise needing scholars in Jannah must retract and clarify. It is not acceptable to remain silent. Rather it is part of Tawbah (repentance) to attempt to reverse the harm and misguidance they have caused.

Loyalty to the Prophet

Unfortunately, sectarian and cultish people will have a hard time accepting that their Shaykh or Imam has spread a fabrication. However, they must follow the evidence. If they are Sunni, then the above references are impactful. Leading Hadith Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah have declared the narration about people in Paradise needing scholars in Jannah a fabrication.

More importantly they need to remind themselves the blessed Prophet ﷺ comes before their Shaykh or Imam. And the Mubarak Prophet ﷺ comes before their sect or cult. Love and loyalty for the Prophet ﷺ dictates that one must stand up against fabrications. That is irrespective of who is responsible for the fabrications.

Claiming prophetic love

It is shocking to see that many of those who make the greatest and most repeated claims of loving the Prophet ﷺ are the least likely to defend the blessed Prophet ﷺ. Especially if the fabrication against the beloved Prophet ﷺ is coming from scholars or groups they like.

Such behaviour completely contradicts their claims of love for the blessed Prophet ﷺ. Let alone love, they are not even loyal to the Mubarak Prophet ﷺ. The one who truly loves the blessed Prophet ﷺ will put him ﷺ before his Shaykh, his sect , his cult, his family and even himself.

Conclusion

Leading Hadith scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah have made it abundantly clear that the narration about people needing scholars in Jannah is fabricated. Therefore, it is prohibited to spread it as a Prophetic narration. Those who have done so in the past must repent and work to reverse the misguidance they have spread.

And Allah Most High Knows Best.

–Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (25.04.25)