Hadith about Awliyaa having the rank of Prophets

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah Most Merciful Most Kind

Short Answer

The Hadith saying that forty people are on the heart of Sayidina Musa is a fabrication. The narration would dictate that Awliyaa are at the rank of Prophets and that aligns more with Shia Aqeedah rather than Sunni creed. However, it is a lie so no Sunni needs to pay attention to it. Nor is it permitted to narrate or promote it.

Explanation

 

عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عُمَارَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا الْمُعَافَى بْنُ عِمْرَانَ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ الثَّوْرِيِّ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنِ الْأَسْوَدِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : إِنَّ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي الْخَلْقِ ثَلَاثَمِائَةٍ قُلُوبُهُمْ عَلَى قَلْبِ آدَمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ , وَلِلَّهِ تَعَالَى فِي الْخَلْقِ أَرْبَعُونَ قُلُوبُهُمْ عَلَى قَلْبِ مُوسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ , وَلِلَّهِ تَعَالَى فِي الْخَلْقِ سَبْعَةٌ قُلُوبُهُمْ عَلَى قَلْبِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ , وَلِلَّهِ تَعَالَى فِي الْخَلْقِ خَمْسَةٌ قُلُوبُهُمْ عَلَى قَلْبِ جِبْرِيلَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ , وَلِلَّهِ تَعَالَى فِي الْخَلْقِ ثَلَاثَةٌ قُلُوبُهُمْ عَلَى قَلْبِ مِيكَائِيلَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ , وَلِلَّهِ تَعَالَى فِي الْخَلْقِ وَاحِدٌ قَلْبُهُ عَلَى قَلْبِ إِسْرَافِيلَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ , فَإِذَا مَاتَ الْوَاحِدُ أَبْدَلَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مَكَانَهُ مِنَ الثَّلَاثَةِ , وَإِذَا مَاتَ مِنَ الثَّلَاثَةِ أَبْدَلَ اللهُ تَعَالَى مَكَانَهُ مِنَ الْخَمْسَةِ , وَإِذَا مَاتَ مِنَ الْخَمْسَةِ أَبْدَلَ اللهُ تَعَالَى مَكَانَهُ مِنَ السَّبْعَةِ , وَإِذَا مَاتَ مِنَ السَّبْعَةِ أَبْدَلَ اللهُ تَعَالَى مَكَانَهُ مِنَ الْأَرْبَعِينَ , وَإِذَا مَاتَ مِنَ الْأَرْبَعِينَ أَبْدَلَ اللهُ تَعَالَى مَكَانَهُ مِنَ الثَّلَاثِمِائَةِ , وَإِذَا مَاتَ مِنَ الثَّلَاثِمِائَةِ أَبْدَلَ اللهُ تَعَالَى مَكَانَهُ مِنَ الْعَامَّةِ. فَبِهِمْ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ , وَيُمْطِرُ وَيُنْبِتُ , وَيَدْفَعُ الْبَلَاءَ. قِيلَ لِعَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ: كَيْفَ بِهِمْ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ؟ قَالَ: لِأَنَّهُمْ يَسْأَلُونَ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِكْثَارَ الْأُمَمِ فَيَكْثُرُونَ , وَيَدْعُونَ عَلَى الْجَبَابِرَةِ فَيُقْصَمُونَ , وَيَسْتَسْقَوْنَ فَيُسْقَوْنَ , وَيَسْأَلُونَ فَتُنْبِتُ لَهُمُ الْأَرْضُ , وَيَدْعُونَ فَيَدْفَعُ بِهِمْ أَنْوَاعَ الْبَلَاءِ

Uthman bin Umaarah informed us that al-Mu’afa bin Imran narrated from Sufyan al-Thawri from Mansur from Ibrahim from al-Aswad from Abdullah, who said, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Indeed, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has three hundred, among the creation, whose hearts are like the heart of Adam (peace be upon him). And Allah (Most High) has forty, among the creation, whose hearts are like the heart of Musa (peace be upon him). And Allah (Most High) has seven, among the creation, whose hearts are like the heart of Ibrahim (peace be upon him). And Allah (Most High) has three, among the creation, whose hearts are like the heart of Mikaeel (peace be upon him). And Allah (Most High) has forty, among the creation, whose hearts are like the heart of Musa (peace be upon him). And Allah (Most High) has one, among the creation, whose heart is like the heart of Israfeel (peace be upon him).

When the one dies, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) replaces him with one from the three. When one of the three dies, Allah (Most High) replaces him with one from the five. When one of the five dies, Allah (Most High) replaces him with one from the seven. When one of the seven dies, Allah (Most High) replaces him with one from the forty. When one of the forty dies, Allah (Most High) replaces him with one from three hundred. And if one of the three hundred dies, Allah (Most High) replaces him with one of the common people. By them, He gives life and causes death, sends rain and plants, and wards off calamity.

It was said to Abdullah bin Mas’ud: How does He give life and cause death through them? He said: Because they ask Allah (Mighty and Majestic) to increase the number of nations, and they increase in number. They pray against tyrants, and they are destroyed. They ask for rain, so are given rain. They ask, and the earth grows for them. They pray, and He averts various kinds of calamities from them. (Hilyatu al-Awliyaa).

 

The narration above dictates that Awliyaa are at the rank of Prophets (peace be upon them). Therefore, if it were sound, it would cause a problem for Sunni Muslims. Since, Ahl al-Sunnah believe that no person has the same rank as a Prophet of Allah (Most High). Rather that is a belief some Shia hold. However, the narration is a fabrication. Thus, no explanation or reconciliation is required.

 

Hadith scholars

عثمان بن عمارة عن المعافى بن عمران حديث: لله في الخلق أربعون على قلب موسى…الحديث. وهو كذب. (ميزان الاعتدال في نقد الرجال)

Uthman bin Umaarah from al-Mu’afa bin Imran narrated: Allah has forty from creation upon the heart of Musa… the Hadith. It is a lie. (Imam Shams al-Deen al-Dhahabi 748H, Mizan al-I’tidal fi Naqd al-Rijal)

In the Nass (text) above, Imam al-Dhahabi clarified that the narration is a lie. Later, the Imam invoked the curse of Allah (Most High) on the one who fabricated the lie. Therefore, he left no doubt regarding the falsehood that is being propagated by those narrating this fabrication.

Imam al-Dhahabi’s analysis was based upon the Sanad (chain of narration) alone. He did not need to get into the text of the Hadith. Had he done so then that would have raised even more concerns with the narration.  Since it dictates that Awliyaa are at the rank of Prophets. Which is absolute misguidance and deviance.

 

فقاتل الله من وضع هذا الافك. (ميزان الاعتدال في نقد الرجال)

May Allah destroy whoever invented this lie. (Imam Shams al-Deen al-Dhahabi 748H, Mizan al-I’tidal fi Naqd al-Rijal).

 

Love for the Prophet

This narration once again demonstrates how some Muslims are failing to protect the words of the blessed Prophet ﷺ. Rather, they are assisting in attributing lies to the beloved Prophet ﷺ. Strangely, the same people often claim to be the people who have the deepest love for our Mubarak Prophet ﷺ.

Love for the Prophet ﷺ necessitates that we stand against fabrications attributed to him ﷺ. The Sahabah were cautious with Hadith narrations and scrutinised authenticity. They had the greatest love for the blessed Prophet ﷺ. For people to claim to love the blessed Prophet ﷺ but deviate from the way of the Sahabah is outrageous.

Any person who truly loves the blessed Prophet ﷺ will stand against fabrications irrespective of who is spreading or propagating them. Shamefully, many people will remain silent when presented with such fabrication due to sectarian considerations. Thus, they are giving preference to their sect over their Prophet. How can they then claim to have great love for the Prophet ﷺ.

Their behaviour becomes even more shameful when they are inventing lies that contradict the Aqeedah our Mubarak Prophet ﷺ taught us. It is not acceptable to say that Awliyaa are at the rank of Prophets. But these people are spreading or defending narrations that promote this falsehood.

And Allah Most High Knows Best.

–Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (06.10.25)