Question Summary:
Clarification regarding the sweat of Nabī Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam

Question Detail:

Assalāmualaikum .
 
I read an article where it was mentioned that the fragrance of a rose emitted from the sweat of Nabī Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam.  What is the full Hadīth and is this Hadīth authentic?

Answer :

The “Hadīth” in reference is:
 
لما عرج بى إلى السماء بكت الأرض من بعدى فنبت اللصف من نباتها، فلما أن رجعت قطر من عرقى على الأرض فنبت ورد أحمر، ألا من أراد أن يشم رائحتى فليشم الورد الأحمر(المواهب اللدنية, ج 2, ص 90: المكتبة التوفيقية)
Translation: When I was lifted to the heavens (on the occasion of Al-Mi’rāj), the earth started to weep.  This resulted in a thorny plant.  And when I was descending, a drop of my sweat fell onto the ground because of which a red rose was planted.  Behold! Whosoever intends to experience my fragrance should smell the red rose. (Al-Mawāhib Al-Laduniyyah, Vol. 2, Page 90: Al-Maktebah At-Tawfīqiyah)
 
However, Imām As-Suyūtī Rahimahullāh has classified this narration as fabricated since there are many narrators in the chain of narration who are unknown.  Furthermore, another narration with a similar meaning is narrated through another chain.  In this chain, Muhammed bin Sadaqah and Muhammed bin Tamīm are unknown.  Also in the chain is Hasan bin Alī Al-Adawī who is known to fabricate narrations.   [1] [2]
 
There is another narration in a similar context stating that the white rose was created from the sweat of Nabī Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam.  Hereunder is the narration:
 
الْوَرْدُ الأَبْيَضُ خُلِقَ مِنْ عَرَقِي لَيْلَةَ الْمِعْرَاجِ وَخُلِقَ الْوَرْدُ الأَحْمَرُ مِنْ عَرَقِ جِبْرِيلَ وَخُلِقَ الْوَرْدُ الأَصْفَرُ مِنْ عَرَقِ الْبُرَاقِ (اللآلىء المصنوعة في الأحاديث الموضوعة, ج2, ص 234: دار الكتب العلمية – بيروت)
 
 Translation:  The white rose was created from my sweat on the night of ascension, and the red rose was created from the sweat of Jibraīl, and the yellow rose was created from the sweat of Al-Burāq. (Al-Laālī Al-Masnūah, Vol. 2, Page 234: Dār Al-Kutub Al-Ilmiyah)
 
It is quoted that Imām An-Nawawi Rahimahullāh said this narration is not authentic and Hafiz Ibn Al-Hajar is quoted to have claimed it to be fabricated.  Furthermore Al-Allāmah As-Suyūti Rahimahumullāh has included this narration in his compilation on fabricated Ahādīth due to the narrator Hasan bin Ali Al-Maqdisi, who is Muttaham (accused). [3] [4]
 
Nevertheless, there are other authentic narrations in which the description of Nabī Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam’s blessed sweat is reported:
 
 
1.      Sayidunā Anas Radhiallāhu Anhu is reported to have said: “I have never smelled musk nor perfume better smelling then the sweat of Nabī Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Salla.” (Ash-Shamāil Al-Muhammadiyah, Hadīth No. 328: Dār Ihyā At-Turāth Al-Arabiy) [5]
 
2.      It is reported that Nabi Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam used to perform the afternoon siesta in the house of Umme Sulaim Radhiallāhu Anhā.  So one day she gathered the sweat of Nabī Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam.  Nabī Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam awakened and asked, “What are you doing O’ Umme Sulaim?” She replied, “This is your sweat. We mix it with our perfume as it is the best smelling perfume.” (Sahīh Al-Muslim, Hadīth No. 2331: Dār Ihyā At-Turāth Al-Ilmī) [6]
 
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mawlana Abdul Azīm bin Abdur Rahman,
Student Darul Iftaa
US
Faculty of Sciences of Hadīth (Takhassus fil Hadīth)
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net
 
For the benefit of the honorable Ulemā, we wish to provide a brief introduction to the referenced books under the fabricated narrations.  The books are as follows:
 
1.      المواهب اللدنية­- “Al-Mawāhib Al-Laduniyyah”- It is authored by Al-Allāmah Ahmed bin Muhammed Rahimahullāh (923 A.H.), famously known as “Al-Allāmah Al-Qastalānī”.  He was a great Muhaddith who has also authored a commentary on Sahīh Al-Bukhāri named    “ ارشاد الساري في شرح صحيح البخاري”.  Al-Mawāhib Al-Laduniyyah is a comprehensive book on As-Sīrah An-Nabawiyyah (Life of Nabī Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam).  The chapters are sequenced in chronological order, initiating with Nabī Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam’s blessed birth and terminating with Nabi Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam’s departure from this temporary abode.  This book also comprises of Nabi Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam’s expeditions, his Akhlākh (characters), his physical beauty, his wives, his clothes, etc. (المواهب اللدنية با المنح المحمدية, ج1, ص16-20:المكتبة التوفيقية) 
2.      الموضوعات- “Al-Maudhūā’t”- It is authored by Ibn Al-Jawzi Rahimahullāh (597 A.H).  This is a compilation on fabricated Ahādīth.  Many Ulemā compiled books on fabricated narrations to keep the Dīn of Allāh clean from false attributions to Nabi Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam. Sufyān Ath-Thawri Rahimahullāh states: “The Angels are guardians of the sky and the men of Hadīth are the guardians of land” (تنزيه الشريعة المرفوعة عن الاخبار الشنيعة الموضوعة, ج 1, ص 4: المكتبة التوفيقية). In other words, the Muhaddithīn will not allow anyone to attribute anything to Nabī Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam wrongly.  However, Ibn Al-Jawzī Rahimahullāh was over critical in Hadīth and declared many authentic narrations as fabricated.  Therefore, Hāfiz Ibn Al-Hajar Rahimahullāh wrote a refutation against Ibn Al-Jawzi in his treatise named, “القول المسدد في الذب عن مسند احمد”.  Therein, Ibn Al-Hajar Rahimahullāh researched those Ahādīth of Musnad Ahmed which Ibn Al-Jawzi Rahimahullāh classified as fabricated.  Allāmah Suyūtī Rahimahullah also has a book named “النكت البديعات علي الموضوعات” in which he wrote a detailed refutation of Ibn Al-Jawzi’s book “Al-Maudhūā’t”. (Darse Tirmidhi, Vol. 1, Page 58: Maktebah Dārul Ulūm Karāchi)
 
3.      اللالئ المصنوعة في الاحاديث الموضوعة- Al-Laālī Al-Masnūah Fil Ahādīth Al-Maudhūah-It is authored by Jalāl Ad-Dīn As-Suyūtī Rahimahullāh (911 A.H.).  He was an Imām in every subject.  This book is an abridgement of the author’s النكت البديعات علي الموضوعات, a refutation of Ibn Al-Jawzi’s above-mentioned book on fabricated narrations.  However, Al-Allāmah As-Suyūti does add extra information in اللالئ المصنوعة في الاحاديث الموضوعة   that is not contained in النكت البديعات علي الموضوعات. (Darse Tirmidhi, Vol. 1, Page 58: Maktebah Dārul Ulūm Karāchi) Imām As-Suyūti Rahimahullāh brings the chapters in accordance to the sequence of Fiqh books.  He states the narration, the opinions of the scholars regarding the narration and further mentions the narrator who fabricated the Hadīth or is accused of fabricating. (اللمحات في المكتبة والبحث والمصادر, ص 231: الرسالة العالمية)
 
 
Mawlana Abdul Azīm Bin Abdur Rahman