The false narration that is presented by Qadiani missionaries to defame Islamic scholars states that “there will come a time when the scholars of the Islamic Ummah will be the worst creatures under the sky.” They often cite this from “Mishkat al-Masabih,” but never provide the complete chain of narration. This narration is actually from “Shu’ab al-Iman” by Imam Baihaqi, which can be found in “Mishkat al-Masabih.” Let’s examine the chain of narration provided by Imam Baihaqi:
أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو الْحَسَنِ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عَبْدَانَ، أخبرنا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ الصَّفَارُ، حدثنا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عِيسَى بْنِ أَبِي إِيَاسٍ، حدثنا سَعِيدُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ دُكَيْنٍ، عَنْ [ص: 318] جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: ” يُوشِكُ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ لَا يَبْقَى مِنَ الْإِسْلَامِ إِلَّا اسْمُهُ، وَلَا يَبْقَى مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ إِلَّا رَسْمُهُ، مَسَاجِدُهُمْ عَامِرَةٌ وَهِيَ خَرَابٌ مِنَ الْهُدَى، عُلَمَاؤُهُمْ شَرُّ مَنْ تَحْتَ أَدِيمِ السَّمَاءِ مَنْ عِنْدَهُمْ تَخْرُجُ الْفِتْنَةُ وَفِيهِمْ تَعُودُ ” ( شعب الایمان جلد 3 صفحہ 317، 318)
Investigation of the Narration:
Weak Narrator: Another narrator in this chain is “Abdullah bin Dukayn,” whom Imam Abu Hatim Razi describes as “weak” in his book “Al-Jarh wa al-Ta’dil” (Volume 5, Page 49), stating that “Yahya ibn Ma’in declared him weak.” Moreover, Imam Ibn Adi also mentions that Abdullah bin Dukayn is weak
(Al-Kamil Fi al-Dhu’afa, Volume 5, Page 377).
(Al-Jarh wa al-Ta’dil, Volume 5, Page 49)
Imam Abu Hatim Razi mentions that “Yahya ibn Ma’in said that Abdullah bin Dukayn is weak” and that he is “weak and a denier of hadith.”
Disconnection in the Narration: This narration contains a narrator named “Ja’far bin Muhammad,” the son of “Imam Muhammad Baqar,” who narrates from his father, Imam Baqar, who narrates from his father, Imam Zain al-Abidin, and he supposedly narrates from his grandfather, Ali ibn Abi Talib (رضی اللہ عنہ). However, Imam Zain al-Abidin could not have heard a narration from his grandfather because Imam Ali (رضی اللہ عنہ) was martyred in 40 AH, when Imam Zain al-Abidin was still a child. Hence, this narration is “disconnected.”
The Qadiani Method of Hadith Criticism:
Qadiani missionaries habitually raise a commotion whenever one weak comment is made about a narrator, even if all the major scholars agree on the authenticity of a particular narrator. Why don’t they feel embarrassed when they present disconnected and weak narrations?
The Virtue of Scholars According to Quran and Hadith:
Allah, the Exalted, mentions the status of scholars in clear words in the Holy Quran:
إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ (Fater: 29)
Translation: Indeed, among His servants, only those who have knowledge fear Allah.
The Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) also said that “The scholars are the heirs of the Prophets” (Sunan Abu Dawood), and that whoever seeks knowledge will find the path to paradise easier for them. Allah further affirms that only the scholars truly understand His message and fear Him.
Conclusion:
Many Qadianis bring up the idea that contemporary scholars are the “worst creatures under the sky,” even likening them to monkeys, dogs, and pigs. However, they fail to recognize the above verses and authentic hadiths that highlight the significance of scholars. Even if they accept the aforementioned narration, the question remains—who are these “worst creatures”? Could it be the Qadianis themselves, who misinterpret or fabricate religious teachings?
Mian Zaid