Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalam Alaikum,

My questions are about this statement attributed by some to the Prophet:

‘We have come back from the lesser jihaad to the greater jihaad’. They said, ‘Is there any greater jihaad than jihaad against the kuffaar?’ he said, ‘Yes, jihaad al-nafs (jihaad against the self)’

Questions: 1. In which book is this hadith reported? Please give a specific hadith number and the full refence of the book in which it appears. 2. Do you have any DETAILED evidence to show whether or not this statement is authentic? 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Jihad against nafs self

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

As famous and as often the above quoted statements are attributed to the Noble Prophet (saws), we have been unable to locate the above statements in any of the authentic books or collections of ahaadeeth.

Often times it so happens that some statements of heresay are repeatedly attributed to the Noble Prophet (saws), but in reality these statements are nothing but mere falsehood and wrongly attributed to the Noble Messenger of Allah (saws).

Because the above statements are not found or recorded in any of the authentic books of ahaadeeth, it would be safe to say that the statements are not from the Messenger of Allah (saws), but rather a falsehood which the ignorant have attributed to the Prophet (saws).

We remind you as we remind ourselves, that one should fear Allah and be extremely careful when quoting or attributing something to the Messenger of Allah (saws); for the chastisement of intentionally attributing a falsehood to Prophet Mohamed (saws) is very severe indeed.

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 232 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas

Allah's Messenger (saws) said: ‘Be mindful when transmitting a Hadith from me. (Transmit) only that which you know (to be the Truth); for he who intentionally attributes a falsehood to me will find his abode in Hell-Fire.’

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan