Is the book "Nuzhat al-Majalis" by al-Saffuri reliable in its hadith and stories?
"Nuzhat al-Majalis wa Muntakhab al-Nafais" by Abd al-Rahman al-Safuri is a book of admonition that compiles reports and stories without distinguishing between authentic, weak, or fabricated narratives, which led to its prohibition from being taught. The author did not accurately document his sources and transmitted fabricated hadiths, such as the likening Ali to prophets, claiming that Ibn al-Jawzi mentioned it, whereas the latter classified it among the fabricated ones. Al-Safuri also attributed statements to Ibn al-Jawzi in a definitive manner, while Ibn al-Jawzi mentioned them in a hesitant or improbable form, such as the description of the Sirat (Bridge) and the story of al-Khidr with Ibn al-Jawzi, which contradicts Ibn al-Jawzi's belief in al-Khidr's death. The book contains many strange reports, exaggerations, and unreliable narrations, making it not recommended. It can be replaced by books from trustworthy scholars such as "Riyad al-Salihin," "Al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib," and authenticated books on asceticism and heart-softeners.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/23962
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 23962
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy