Ibn Abbas narrates that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
‘Love the Arabs for three reasons: Because I am an Arab, The Quran is in Arabic and the language of Jannah is Arabic’
This hadith was narrated by:
1) Hakim in his Mustadrak 4/87
2) Tabarani in al-Mu’jamul Kabir, # 11441 (11/185) and in Al-Awsat #5583 (5/369)
3) Baihaqi in Shu’abul Iman, #1364 (3/34-35)
4) U’qaili in al-Du’afaa 3/1054 and others.
Hakim said it is authentic. So has some later scholars including Suyuti in ‘Jame Sagheer’ [#225 (1/178 Faidhul Qadeer)], Mulla Ali al-Qari in ‘Asraar Marfoo’ah’ [Pg.273] and Zurqani in ‘Mukhtasar Maqasid Hasanah’ [#29 Pg.53-54]. However, many of the earlier and later muhaqqiqeen have considered the hadith a fabrication or at the most extremely weak. The following discussion will show that the second opinion is accurate.
Tabrani said: “No one narrated this hadith from Ibn Juraij except Yahya ibn Buraid. And Al-A’laa ibn A’mr is alone in narrating from him (i.e. Yahya).” [Al-Awsat #5583 (5/369)]
Baihaqi also said the same. [Al-Maqaasid Pg.64)
U’qaili said: This hadith is munkar and it has no basis.
Ibn Abi Hatim writes in his ‘Elal’: I heard my father saying: “This hadith is a lie.”
Ibnul Jawzi narrates it in his ‘al-Mawdu’aat’ and quotes U’qaili. [#859 Babun Fee Hubbil A’rab]
Zahabi said in his ‘Talkhees of Maudu’aat’: “Yahya is worthless.” [#342]
He said in “Mizanul E’tidaal’ [3/103]: “This is a fabrication.”
Hakim narrated a second chain [in Mustadrak 4/87] as a support. However, concerning this, Zahabi said in his ‘Talkheesul Mustadrak’: “Ibnul Fadhl is accused (of lying) and I feel the hadith is a fabrication.” [ibid]
Hafiz Sakhaawi states in ‘Al-Maqaasidul Hasanah’: “The mutaba’ah (support) of Muhammad ibnul Fadhl narrated by Hakim will not be counted as Ibnul Fadhl is not useful in mutaab’ah. His hadith is not taken into consideration since all agree he is weak and he was accused of lying.” [Pg. 64]
In ‘al-La-aali al Masnu’ah’ Suyuti states: “Hafiz Ibn Hajr said in ‘al-Lisaan’: ‘al-A’laa has been mentioned by Ibn Hibban in his thiqaat. Salih Jazarah said: ‘There is nothing wrong with him.’ Abu Hatim said: ‘I wrote from him and I know nothing but good concerning him.'” [1/442]
However Ibn Hajr still ended off the biography with U’qaili’s quote above without refuting it. Therefore that indicates he agrees with U’qaili. [Lisaanul Mizaan 5/467]
Ameerul Mumineen fil Hadith Shaikh Yunus Jonpuri حفظه الله also indicated to this in his ‘Al-Yawaaqeet Ghaliyah’ [1/389]
Even if we were to accept that kalam as strengthening al-A’laa, there would still remain the kalam on Yahya ibn Yazeed. Ibn Hibban said: He narrates maqloobaat from reliable scholars. It is incorrect to use him as evidence. [Maudu’aat Ibnul Jawzi 2/293]
Therefore one should not misunderstand that Suyuti’s kalam is a reliable strengthening of this narration.
Allamah Sakhawi [in Maqasid P.64] and Suyuti [in La-aali 1/445] points out a Shaahid (supporting hadith) that may/will save the hadith from being graded as a fabrication. However, it will still remain extremely weak.
Abu Hurairah narrates that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
“I am an Arab, The Quran is in Arabic and the language of Jannah is Arabic.”
Narrated by Tabrani in ‘Mu’jamul Awsat’ [#9147 (9/69)]
However Suyuti cautioned that, Zahabi states in ‘al-Mughni’ [#2733]: “Shibl ibn al-A’laa ibn Abdir Rahman: Ibn A’di said: ‘He has manakir.'”
Ibn Arraq says in ‘Tanzeehush Shari’ah’ [2/31]: “Hafiz E’raqi states: ‘Abu Hurairah’s hadith is stronger than Ibn Abbas’s. Ibn Hibban has used Shibl ibn Al-A’laa in his Sahih as evidence and said his status in hadith is straight. However, the narrator from him (in this hadith) Abdul Aziz ibn Imran az-Zuhri is matrook, said Nasai and others. Therefore this hadith is not correct.'”
Imam Bukhari narrates mu’alqan in his ‘Tareekh Kabeer’ [4/4-5]: “Mihjan ibn Abdur Rahman al-Kufi said: “The Nabi (صلى الله عليه وسلم) came out to his companions and they were saying to Salman: “What is your lineage?” He replied; “What is the lineage of a man who was created by soil and will return to soil. If my scale is heavy than how noble will be my lineage! But if my scale is light then how low is my lineage! He then recited: {So whose scale is heavy} {Surah al-Qari’ah} The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “Woe onto you! Love the Arabs for three reasons; Your Prophet is an Arab, Your Quran is in Arabic and Your language in Jannah is Arabic.
However this hadith cannot support anything as it is missing many narrators. [See al-Yawaaqeet 1/293]
In conclusion this hadith is extremely weak and should not be quoted.
And Allah knows best.
Also see here.
