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Is this hadith reported by Ahmad reported in Mishkat Al Masabih and by Al-Tirmidhi authentic?

Mohamad Mostafa Nassar
Twitter:@NassarMohamadMR

Abud Darda’ reported God’s messenger as saying, “God created Adam when He created him and struck his right shoulder and brought forth his offspring white like small ants. And he struck his left shoulder and brought forth his offspring black as though they were charcoal. Then He said to the party on his right side, ‘To paradise, and I do not care’ and He said to the party in his left shoulder, ‘To hell, and I do not care’.

 Ahmad transmitted it.

Grade: Isnād Hasan=Good (Zubair `Aliza’i)

Reference: Mishkat al-Masabih 119 In-book reference: Book 1, Hadith 112

Answer:

The hadith grade is hasan which means a Good Hadith, what does matter here however is its interpretation. And it must be in line with the Quran and Sunnah. Know that ANYTHING THAT CONTRADICTS QURAN OR A MORE OFTEN MENTIONED SUNNAH OR HADITH IS INCORRECT! So if this hadith is interpreted based on race then it is incorrect.

A Hadith cannot be rejected until you know that there is no other way of interpreting this text except in a racist way, at which point we would reject it based on the correct understanding of Quran and Sunnah. This very is important. You must never reject Hadith or anything concerning the religion based on emotions. 

It is not our job to reject ro categorize a hadith. It is the job of specialist honest, knowledgeable scholars specialised in Hadith

Interpretation supported by evidence from the Noble Qur’an:

“The Day when (some) faces are whitened, and (some) faces blackened. Then, as for the ones whose faces are blackened- “Did you disbelieve after your belief? Then taste the torment for that you disbelieved.” Qur’an (3:106)

“Did you not see that Allah has sent down water from the sky? Then We brought forth with it fruits having different colours. And among the mountains there are tracks, white and red- of different colours, and (others) utterly black. And among humans and beasts and cattle, there are those having different colours as well. Only those of His slaves’ fear Allah who are knowledgeable. Surely Allah is Mighty, Forgiving.” Qur’an (35:27-28)

“And on the Day of Judgment, you will see those who had forged lies against Allah (in a state) that their faces are turned black. Is it not that in Jahannam there is an abode for the arrogant?” Qur’an (39:60)

“Many faces, on that day, will be bright, laughing, rejoicing, and many faces, on that day, will be stained with dust, covered by darkness. Those are the disbelievers, the nefarious.” Qur’an (80:38-42)

“Of course, whosoever submits his face to Allah, and is good in deeds, will have his reward with his Lord, and there shall be no fear for such people, nor shall they grieve.” Qur’an (2:112)

“And whoever submits his self to Allah and is good in deeds, he in fact holds on to the strongest ring. Towards Allah is the ultimate end of all matters. Qur’an (31:22)

“If someone acts righteously, he does so for the benefit of his own soul, and if someone commits evil, he does so against it. Your Lord is not unjust to His servants.” Qur’an (41:46)

“The one who does something evil will not be punished but in its equal proportion, but the one who does a righteous deed, be he male or female, while he is a believer, then, such people will enter the Jannah (Paradise) where they will be provided with bounties beyond reckoning.” Qur’an (40:40)

When it comes to the color of the offspring in this Hadith, it is NOT speaking about the color that comes from GENES inherited from your parents. 

When the Messenger of Allah (saw) actually did speak on this subject (color of race) it went a little something this:

Abu Musa al-Ash’ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) as saying: Allah created Adam from a handful which he took from the whole of the earth; so, the children of Adam are in accordance with the earth: some red, some white, some black, some a mixture, also smooth and rough, bad and good.

From Quran (3:106) Allah says On the Day [of Judgment] when some faces will shine [with happiness] and some faces will be dark [with grief]. And as for those with faces darkened, [they shall be told:] “Did you deny the truth after having attained to faith? Taste, then, this suffering for having denied the truth!”

Allah tells us who will have blackened faces on the day of judgement. It is the one who rejected truth after having faith. So, you see that according to Allah the ones with blackened faces are the ones who fall into this category.

From Quran (35:27-28) Allah says Seest thou not that Allah sends down rain from the sky? With it We then bring out produce of various colors. And in the mountains are tracts white and red of various shades of color and black intense in hue. And so, amongst men and crawling creatures and cattle are they of various colors. Those truly fear Allah among His Servants who have knowledge: for Allah is Exalted in Might Oft-Forgiving.

Here Allah speaks about His creation in no negative way. In fact, He says this in a way that will show the perfection and diversity and accuracy and amazing-ness of his creation.

From Quran (39:60) Allah says and [so,] on the Day of Resurrection thou wilt see all who invented lies about God [with] their faces darkened [by grief and ignominy]. Is not hell the [proper] abode for all who are given to false pride?

Another reason for black/dark faces on the day of judgement is lying on Allah. Again, this is what Allah is saying! You must fall into this category indeed to be in the category of black faces on the day of Judgement.

From Quran (80:38-42) Allah says Some faces will on that Day be bright with happiness, laughing, rejoicing at glad tidings. And some faces will on that Day with dust be covered, with darkness overspread these, these will be the ones who denied the truth and were immersed in iniquity!

We can see by now that happiness is the brightness for, they were the doers of good. And clearly regret is darkness.

In an Authentic Narration Jabir bin ‘Abdullah (RAA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him said: “Beware of oppression, for oppression will turn into excessive darkness on the Day of Resurrection…”

Let us see what can be taken from this: They imply this darkness is to oppressors, it implies that things in this world translate into different things in the next world.

For example, wudu turns into light on the day of judgement. This shows that concepts on the day of judgement are different than concepts in this world. Another example is currency. Here it is money, there it is deeds.

In fact, there will be trading on that Day! Hence one of its names being The Day of Mutual Loss and Gain. Then Blackness (really brownness), in this world, (which is beautiful) has no effect in the hereafter. And Whiteness (light brownness/redness), in this world, (which is beautiful) has no effect in the hereafter. 

This is proven with a statement from the blessed lips of Allah’s Messenger when he says in his last sermon:

All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also, a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action.

So, neither being black nor being white will help you on the Day of Judgement. But only your deeds.

From Quran (2:112) Allah says Nay whoever submits his whole self to Allah and is a doer of good he will get his reward with his Lord; on such shall be no fear nor shall they grieve.

The first word in this beautiful ayat is ‘bala’ which means nay or yes depending on context. But it is not my focus, I will instead divert your attention to the second word. ‘Mann’ literally means whoever. By the way we all know Allah is All-Knowing and All-Aware, both of which are of His Divine Names. He does make mistakes, nor does he forget (Quran (20:52)).

So Consciously, Deliberately, and Correctly chose the word ‘Mann.’ A basic understanding of both languages will tell you that the word ‘whoever’ is unrestricted. And if one wanted to restrict it, they would have to put an exception into the sentence. There is no exception here.

Now remember Allah is All-Knowing and All-Aware and does not forget nor makes mistakes! So, this was done Consciously, Deliberately, and Correctly! Whoever submits his whole self to Allah and is a doer of good has grasped indeed the most trustworthy handhold: and with Allah rests the End and Decision of (all) affairs.

From Quran (31:22) Allah says Whoever submits his whole self to Allah and is a doer of good has grasped indeed the most trustworthy handhold: and with Allah rests the End and Decision of (all) affairs.

Just like before, whoever here means anyone.

From Quran (41:46) Allah says Whoever works righteousness benefits his own soul; whoever works evil it is against his own soul: nor is thy Lord ever unjust (in the least) to His slaves.

And again, here is the word ‘Whoever.’

From Quran (40:40) Allah says Quoting A Man of Faith Whoever works evil will not be requited but by the like thereof: and whoever works a righteous deed whether man or woman and is a believer such will enter the Garden (of Bliss): therein will they have abundance without measure.

Here again it happens! There are many more examples of the like in the Noble Quran. But let us highlight something here: The reward of the do-good-er is Jannah! And Allah used the word whoever and did not insert any exceptions. But let us say that somehow this is not good enough. That is crazy but fine.

Here is a list of Black people going to Jannah by the mercy of Allah: Bilal ibn Rabah, Ammar ibn Yasir, Julaibib, Mihja ibn Salih, Abu Dharr (though Arab, he was particularly brown), Sulayman ibn Dawood (peace be upon them both), and Musa (peace be upon him). There are many more.

Here is one famous white guy going to hell: …….Dajjal=antichrist! Yes, the Messenger of Allah described him as one with rosy complexion. I will not list anymore going to hell who are white as it is unnecessary. For there are blacks and whites in Hell (may Allah protect us) and also the opposite is true.
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Almighty Allah is the highest and most knowledgeable, and the attribution of knowledge to him is the safest.

Right from Almighty Allah and wrong from me and Satan

Prepared by Mohamad Mostafa Nassar

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Arrogance is not only a sign of insecurity, but also a sign of immaturity. Mature and fully realised persons can get their points across, even emphatically without demeaning or intimidating others.