What Is the Authenticity of the Hadith Where the Prophet Holds Two Books Listing People of Paradise and Fire?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

What is the grading of the following hadith?

It is recorded in Tirmidhi that Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr Ibn al-‘Aş (Allah be pleased with him)  narrates that the beloved of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) came out carrying two books. He said about the book in his right hand, “This book is from Lord of the Worlds. It contains the names of those who will enter Paradise and the names of their fathers and tribes. The total (number) has been written at the end. Thus, there will be no increase or a decrease.”?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

Hadith

‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr narrated:

“The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) came out to us with two books in his hand. And he said:

‘Do you know what these two books are?’

We said: ‘No, O Messenger of Allah! Unless you inform us.’

He said about the one in his right hand: ‘This is a book from the Lord of the worlds; in it are the names of the people of Paradise and the names of their fathers and their tribes. Then there is a summary at the end of them, there being no addition to them nor deduction from them forever.’

Then he said about the one on his left: ‘This is a book from the Lord of the worlds; in it are the names of the people of Fire and the names of their fathers and their tribes. Then there is a summary at the end of them, there being no addition to them nor deduction from them forever.’

The companions said: ‘So why work, O Messenger of Allah! Since the matter is already decided (and over)?’

He said: ‘Seek to do what is right and draw nearer, for indeed the inhabitant of Paradise shall have his work sealed off with the deeds of the people of Paradise, whichever deeds he did. And indeed the inhabitant of Fire shall have his work sealed off with the deeds of the people of Fire, whichever deeds he did.’

Then the Messenger of Allah motioned with his hands, casting them down, and said: ‘Your Lord finished with the slaves, a group in Paradise, and a group in the Blazing Fire.’” Another chain reports a similar narration. [Tirmidhi]

This hadith has been mentioned by Imam Tirmidhi (Allah have mercy on him) in the Book of Fate, under the Chapter: “What Allah Most High Recorded a Book For the People of Paradise and Hellfire.” See the reference here.

This hadith presents the most powerful and virtuous statement for entering Paradise eternally, even if one has to enter Hellfire temporarily.

Grading

The grading of the above hadith is “good-uncommon-authentic” (hasan gharib sahih). This indicates that the hadith was reported by a single narrator in a specific generation, though it may have more narrators in other periods. A uncommon (gharib) hadith can be authentic (sahih), similar to some gharib narrations found in Bukhari and Muslim. However, such hadiths are frequently found to be weak. [Suyuti, Tadrib al-Rawi Fi Sharh Taqrib al-Nawawi]

May Allah make us from amongst those who have deep faith in Him, believing in His oneness, as one should do, with love, worship, and obedience to His commands and all that he is pleased with. Amin.

Related:

• The Weightiness of “La Ilaha Illa Allah” | Entering God’s Fortress 
• What Is the True Meaning of “La Ilaha Ill Allah”? 

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.