Whoever lies about the prophet

When most traditionalists are asked to provide a verbatim statement from the prophet according to the Hadith that they can say came out of the prophet’s mouth without any ambiguity, they typically cite the narration which states the Hadith where the prophet stated that, “anyone who tells a lie about me should take their seat in the Fire.” Ironically even this most mass-transmitted (mutawatir) Hadith is inconsistent because some of the narrations claim the lie does not have to be deliberate ( مُتَعَمِّدًا ), while others claim it does.

Without the word deliberate

Abū Bakr ibn Abī Shaybah narrated to us that Ghundar narrated to us, on authority of Shu’bah; and Muhammad bin ul-Muthannā and Ibn Bashār both narrated to us, they said: Muhammad bin Ja’far narrated to us, Shu’bah narrated to us, on authority of Mansūr, on authority of Rab’iy ibn Hirāsh, that he heard Alī, may Allah be pleased with him, giving a Khutbah and he said that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah upon him, said: ‘Do not lie upon me; indeed whoever lies upon me will enter the Fire’.

وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَابْنُ، بَشَّارٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ رِبْعِيِّ بْنِ حِرَاشٍ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عَلِيًّا، – رضى الله عنه – يَخْطُبُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ لاَ تَكْذِبُوا عَلَىَّ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ يَكْذِبْ عَلَىَّ يَلِجِ النَّارَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Sahih Muslim 1
https://sunnah.com/muslim:1

Narrated `Ali: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Do not tell a lie against me for whoever tells a lie against me then he will surely enter the Hell-fire.“

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْجَعْدِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا شُعْبَةُ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي مَنْصُورٌ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رِبْعِيَّ بْنَ حِرَاشٍ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ عَلِيًّا، يَقُولُ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ لاَ تَكْذِبُوا عَلَىَّ، فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَىَّ فَلْيَلِجِ النَّارَ ‏”‏‏.‏

Sahih al-Bukhari 106
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:106

Narrated `Abdullah bin Az-Zubair: I said to my father, ‘I do not hear from you any narration (Hadith) of Allah s Apostle as I hear (his narration) from so and so?” Az-Zubair replied. l was always with him (the Prophet) and I heard him saying “Whoever tells a lie against me then let him occupy, his seat in Hellfire.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ جَامِعِ بْنِ شَدَّادٍ، عَنْ عَامِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لِلزُّبَيْرِ إِنِّي لاَ أَسْمَعُكَ تُحَدِّثُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَمَا يُحَدِّثُ فُلاَنٌ وَفُلاَنٌ‏.‏ قَالَ أَمَا إِنِّي لَمْ أُفَارِقْهُ وَلَكِنْ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ ‏ “‏ مَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَىَّ فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ ‏”‏‏.‏

Sahih al-Bukhari 107
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:107

Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Anyone who attributes words to me which I did not say should take his seat in the Fire. Anyone who gives his Muslim brother misguided advice when they consult him has betrayed them. If anyone gives a fatwa which is not firm, the wrong action of that rests on the one who gave the fatwa.”

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ يَزِيدَ قَالَ‏: ‏ حَدَّثَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ قَالَ‏: ‏ حَدَّثَنِي بَكْرُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ أَبِي عُثْمَانَ مُسْلِمِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ‏: ‏ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏: ‏ مَنْ تَقَوَّلَ عَلَيَّ مَا لَمْ أَقُلْ، فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ وَمَنِ اسْتَشَارَهُ أَخُوهُ الْمُسْلِمُ، فَأَشَارَ عَلَيْهِ بِغَيْرِ رُشْدٍ فَقَدْ خَانَهُ وَمَنْ أُفْتِيَ فُتْيَا بِغَيْرِ ثَبْتٍ، فَإِثْمُهُ عَلَى مَنْ أَفْتَاهُ‏.‏

Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 259
https://sunnah.com/adab:259

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever attributes to me something that I have not said, let him take his place in Hell.“

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بِشْرٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏ “‏ مَنْ تَقَوَّلَ عَلَىَّ مَا لَمْ أَقُلْ فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Sunan Ibn Majah 34
https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:34

Narrated Salama: I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, “Whoever ascribes to me what I have not said then let him occupy his seat in Hell-fire.”

حَدَّثَنَا مَكِّيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي عُبَيْدٍ، عَنْ سَلَمَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ “‏ مَنْ يَقُلْ عَلَىَّ مَا لَمْ أَقُلْ فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ ‏”‏‏.‏

Sahih al-Bukhari 109
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:109

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا مَنْصُورٌ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رِبْعِيًّا، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَلِيًّا، رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا تَكْذِبُوا عَلَيَّ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ يَكْذِبْ عَلَيَّ يَلِجْ النَّارَ‏.‏

It was narrated that Ribi said: I heardAli (رضي الله عنه) say: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Do not tell lies about me, because whoever tells a lie about me will enter Hell.” Hajjaj said: I said to Shubah: Did he meetAli? He said. Yes; he narrated it to me from ‘Ali. And he did not say he heard it.
It was narrated from Rib’i bin Hirash that he heard `Ali (رضي الله عنه) deliver a khutbah; he said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said… and he narrated a similar report.

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى يَعْنِي ابْنَ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجٌ، أَنْبَأَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالَ يَحْيَى قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَنْصُورٌ، عَنْ رِبْعِيٍّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَلِيًّا، رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا تَكْذِبُوا عَلَيَّ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ يَكْذِبْ عَلَيَّ يَلِجْ النَّارَ قَالَ حَجَّاجٌ قُلْتُ لِشُعْبَةَ هَلْ أَدْرَكَ عَلِيًّا قَالَ نَعَمْ حَدَّثَنِي عَنْ عَلِيٍّ وَلَمْ يَقُلْ سَمِعَ.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ رِبْعِيِّ بْنِ حِرَاشٍ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عَلِيًّا رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ يَخْطُبُ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَذَكَرَ مِثْلَهُ‏.‏

Musnad Ahmad 1000, 1001
https://sunnah.com/ahmad:1000

Mansoor said: I heard Ribi say: I heard ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) say: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Do not tell lies about me, for whoever tells lies about me will enter the Fire.”

Musnad Ahmad 629
https://sunnah.com/ahmad:629

It was narrated from’Amir bin ‘Abdullah bin az-Zubair (رضي الله عنه) that his father said: I said to my father, az-Zubair bin al-Awwam (رضي الله عنه): “Why dont you narrate from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).” He said: “I never left him since I became Muslim, but I heard him say something. He said: Whoever tells a lie about me, let him take his place in Hell.`

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ جَامِعِ بْنِ شَدَّادٍ، عَنْ عَامِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ بْنِ الْعَوَّامِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ مَا لَكَ لَا تُحَدِّثُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ مَا فَارَقْتُهُ مُنْذُ أَسْلَمْتُ وَلَكِنِّي سَمِعْتُ مِنْهُ كَلِمَةً سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ مَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَيَّ فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنْ النَّارِ‏.‏

Musnad Ahmad 1428
https://sunnah.com/ahmad:1428

Narrated ‘Ali bin Abi Talib: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Do not lie upon me, for indeed whoever lies upon me, he will be admitted into the Fire.” In this chapter, from Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Zubair, Sa’id bin Zaid, Abdullah bin Amr, Anas, Jabir, Ibn Abbas, Abu Said, Amr bin Abasa, ‘Uqbah bin ‘Amir, Mu’awiyah, Buraidah, Abu Musa Al-Ghafari, Abu Umamah, Abdullah bin Umar, Al-Munqadhi and Aws Al-Thaqafi. Abu ‘Isa said: The Hadith of Ali is a Hasan Sahih Hadith. Abdul Rahman bin Mahdi said: Mansur bin Al-Mu’tamir attested to the people of Kufa. Waqee said: Rabi bin Hiras did not lie about anything in Islam.”

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ مُوسَى الْفَزَارِيُّ ابْنُ بِنْتِ السُّدِّيِّ، حَدَّثَنَا شَرِيكُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ الْمُعْتَمِرِ، عَنْ رِبْعِيِّ بْنِ حِرَاشٍ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ لاَ تَكْذِبُوا عَلَىَّ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَىَّ يَلِجُ فِي النَّارِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ وَعُثْمَانَ وَالزُّبَيْرِ وَسَعِيدِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو وَأَنَسٍ وَجَابِرٍ وَابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَأَبِي سَعِيدٍ وَعَمْرِو بْنِ عَبَسَةَ وَعُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ وَمُعَاوِيَةَ وَبُرَيْدَةَ وَأَبِي مُوسَى الْغَافِقِيِّ وَأَبِي أُمَامَةَ وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ وَالْمُنْقَعِ وَأَوْسٍ الثَّقَفِيِّ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ عَلِيٍّ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏ قَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ مَنْصُورُ بْنُ الْمُعْتَمِرِ أَثْبَتُ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ ‏.‏ وَقَالَ وَكِيعٌ لَمْ يَكْذِبْ رِبْعِيُّ بْنُ حِرَاشٍ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ كِذْبَةً

Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2660
https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:2660

With the Word Deliberate

Narrated ‘Abdullah [bin Mas’ud]: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever lied to me deliberately, let him take his seat in the Fire.”

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو هِشَامٍ الرِّفَاعِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ عَيَّاشٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَاصِمٌ، عَنْ زِرٍّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ مَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَىَّ مُتَعَمِّدًا فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2659
https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:2659

Narrated Anas: The fact which stops me from narrating a great number of Hadiths to you is that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Whoever tells a lie against me intentionally, then let him occupy his seat in Hell-fire.”

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مَعْمَرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ، قَالَ أَنَسٌ إِنَّهُ لَيَمْنَعُنِي أَنْ أُحَدِّثَكُمْ حَدِيثًا كَثِيرًا أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ مَنْ تَعَمَّدَ عَلَىَّ كَذِبًا فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ ‏”‏‏.‏

Sahih al-Bukhari 108
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:108

Muhammad bin Abd Allah ibn Numayr narrated to us, my father narrated to us, Sa’īd bin Ubayd narrated to us, Alī bin Rabī’ah narrated to us, he said: ‘I arrived at the Masjid and al-Mughīrah, the Amīr of al-Kūfah said: ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah upon him, saying, ‘Indeed a lie upon me is not like a lie upon anyone else, for whoever lies upon me intentionally, then he shall take his seat in the Fire’.’

وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ رَبِيعَةَ، قَالَ أَتَيْتُ الْمَسْجِدَ وَالْمُغِيرَةُ أَمِيرُ الْكُوفَةِ قَالَ فَقَالَ الْمُغِيرَةُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ “‏ إِنَّ كَذِبًا عَلَىَّ لَيْسَ كَكَذِبٍ عَلَى أَحَدٍ فَمَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَىَّ مُتَعَمِّدًا فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Sahih Muslim 4a
https://sunnah.com/muslim:4a

Muhammad bin Ubayd il-Ghubarī narrated to us, Abū Awānah narrated to us, on authority of Abī Hasīn, on authority of Abī Sālih, on authority of Abū Hurayrah, he said, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah upon him, said: ‘Whoever lies upon me intentionally, then let him take his seat in the Fire’.

وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ الْغُبَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي حَصِينٍ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ مَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَىَّ مُتَعَمِّدًا فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Sahih Muslim 3
https://sunnah.com/muslim:3

It was narrated from that Jabir said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever tells lies about me deliberately, let him take his place in Hell.”

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو خَيْثَمَةَ، زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏ “‏ مَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَىَّ مُتَعَمِّدًا فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Sunan Ibn Majah 33
https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:33

It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever tells lies about me deliberately, let him take his place in Hell.”

حَدَّثَنَا سُوَيْدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ، عَنْ مُطَرِّفٍ، عَنْ عَطِيَّةَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏ “‏ مَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَىَّ مُتَعَمِّدًا فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Sunan Ibn Majah 37
https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:37

`Abd Allah bin al-Zubair said on the authority of the father: I asked al-Zubair: What prevents you from narrating traditions from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as his Companions narrate from him? He said: By Allah I was very close to him. But I heard him (ﷺ) say: He who lies about me deliberately will certainly come to his abode in Hell.

حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَوْنٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا خَالِدٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، – الْمَعْنَى – عَنْ بَيَانِ بْنِ بِشْرٍ، – قَالَ مُسَدَّدٌ أَبُو بِشْرٍ – عَنْ وَبَرَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَامِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لِلزُّبَيْرِ مَا يَمْنَعُكَ أَنْ تُحَدِّثَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَمَا يُحَدِّثُ عَنْهُ أَصْحَابُهُ فَقَالَ أَمَا وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ كَانَ لِي مِنْهُ وَجْهٌ وَمَنْزِلَةٌ وَلَكِنِّي سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ ‏ “‏ مَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَىَّ مُتَعَمِّدًا فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Sunan Abi Dawud 3651
https://sunnah.com/abudawud:3651

Uncertainty about Deliberate or Not Hadith

There are even Hadith to try to paper over this confusion by stating that post facto that they were unsure if he said the word deliberate or not.

Abu Sa’id Khudri reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: Do not take down anything from me, and he who took down anything from me except the Qur’an, he should efface that and narrate from me, for there is no harm in it and he who attributed any falsehood to me-and Hammam said: I think he also said: ” deliberately” -he should in fact find his abode in the Hell-Fire.

حَدَّثَنَا هَدَّابُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ الأَزْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ لاَ تَكْتُبُوا عَنِّي وَمَنْ كَتَبَ عَنِّي غَيْرَ الْقُرْآنِ فَلْيَمْحُهُ وَحَدِّثُوا عَنِّي وَلاَ حَرَجَ وَمَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَىَّ – قَالَ هَمَّامٌ أَحْسِبُهُ قَالَ – مُتَعَمِّدًا فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Sahih Muslim 3004
https://sunnah.com/muslim:3004

It was narrated that Anas bin Malik said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever tells lies about me’, I (the narrator) think that he also said ‘deliberately’, let him take his place in Hell.’“

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رُمْحٍ الْمِصْرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏ “‏ مَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَىَّ – حَسِبْتُهُ قَالَ مُتَعَمِّدًا – فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Sunan Ibn Majah 32
https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:32

Narrated Anas bin Malik: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever lies upon me” – I think he said – purposely, “then let him take his seat in the Fire.”

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ مَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَىَّ – حَسِبْتُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ مُتَعَمِّدًا فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ بَيْتَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ غَرِيبٌ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ مِنْ حَدِيثِ الزُّهْرِيِّ عَنْ أَنَسٍ ‏.‏ وَقَدْ رُوِيَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ مِنْ غَيْرِ وَجْهٍ عَنْ أَنَسٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏.‏

Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2661
https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:2661

To resolve this, traditionalists argue that the lie has to be intentional because otherwise, all the narrators of Hadith could be destined for Hell if they misquoted the prophet.

Except, this understanding goes counter to how the earliest companions understood this statement by the prophet according to the Hadith corpus. For instance, Abu Bakr burned his collection of Hadith because he was concerned he could be guilty of spreading lies about the prophet if they were misunderstood. According to a report from al-Hakim an-Nisaburi, Aisha stated the following:

Narrated ‘Aisha: My father had collected five hundred hadiths of the Prophet. On the night he did it, he tossed and turned in bed. I asked, “Do you have an illness or have you heard something?” In the morning, he said, “My daughter! Bring me the hadiths that I gave you.” I brought them. He wanted some fire and burned them. When I asked him why he burned them, he said, “I do not want to die having these hadiths with me because I am afraid that there are hadiths that are not originally as they are reported though I heard them from people whom I trust; I am afraid to narrate them that way”

Al-Dhahbiy: Tadhkirat al-Huffadh 1:5
Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad: al-I`tisam bi-Habl-illah al-Matin 1:30
`Abd al-Ghaniy `Abd al-Khaliq: Hijjiyyat al-Sunnah 394

After the demise of the Holy Prophet, Abu-Bakr gathered people and said, ‘You are reporting about the Messenger of Allah inconsistent narrations. People coming after you will be engaged in more intense discrepancy. Therefore, do not report anything about the Messenger of Allah, and if anyone asks you, you should refer to the Book of Allah as the arbitrator. You should thus deem lawful whatever is lawful therein and deem unlawful whatever is unlawful therein.’

Al-Dhahbiy: Tadhkirat al-Huffadh 1:32
`Abd al-Ghaniy Abd al-Khaliq: Hijjiyyat al-Sunnah 394

This shows that the companions were fearful of spreading hadith besides the Quran despite their intentions. This is echoed in the above Hadith from Sahih Bukhari 107 and 108, where both Anas and Az-Zubair stated that he was apprehensive about spreading Hadith because of fear of lying about the prophet. This also explains why there was no formal effort to collect, compile, and preserve the Hadith like there was for the Quran by the prophet’s companions.

Even the supposed paper left by the prophet states that the spreaders of Hadith as well as the people who host the spreaders of Hadith are all condemned by God, the angels, and all the people.

We do not have with us anything from the prophet except the book of God, and this writing: The Sacred City, what is between ‘Aer and such and such, whoever he narrates therein a Hadith (innovation) or sheltered a propagator of Hadith (innovator), then upon him is the curse of God, the angels, and all the people. Not He will accept from him an excuse and not a ransom. [And he said] The responsibility of the Muslim (Submitter) is one. Then whoever he violated (his responsibility with) a Muslim (Submitter), then upon him is the curse of God, the angels, and all the people. Not He will accept from him an excuse and not a ransom. And whoever he turned away a people without the permission of his master, then upon him is the curse of God, the angels, and all the people. Not He will accept from him an excuse and not a ransom.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ التَّيْمِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ مَا عِنْدَنَا شَىْءٌ إِلاَّ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ، وَهَذِهِ الصَّحِيفَةُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ الْمَدِينَةُ حَرَمٌ، مَا بَيْنَ عَائِرٍ إِلَى كَذَا، مَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِيهَا حَدَثًا، أَوْ آوَى مُحْدِثًا، فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ، لاَ يُقْبَلُ مِنْهُ صَرْفٌ وَلاَ عَدْلٌ ‏”‏‏.‏ وَقَالَ ‏”‏ ذِمَّةُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَاحِدَةٌ، فَمَنْ أَخْفَرَ مُسْلِمًا فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ، لاَ يُقْبَلُ مِنْهُ صَرْفٌ وَلاَ عَدْلٌ، وَمَنْ تَوَلَّى قَوْمًا بِغَيْرِ إِذْنِ مَوَالِيهِ، فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ، لاَ يُقْبَلُ مِنْهُ صَرْفٌ وَلاَ عَدْلٌ ‏”‏‏.‏

Sahih al-Bukhari 1870
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:1870

All this shows that even in the example of the supposed most mutawatir Hadith there is major ambiguity regarding what exactly the prophet said, which isn’t a small matter. This ambiguity could mean that the millions of people upholding and spreading Hadith could be condemning themselves to Hell if they misquote the prophet.

Despite this, we have one single Hadith that we can say definitively came from the prophet without any crookedness or ambiguity, and that Hadith is the Quran alone.

[39:23] GOD has revealed herein the best Hadith; a book that is consistent, and points out both ways (to Heaven and Hell). The skins of those who reverence their Lord cringe therefrom, then their skins and their hearts soften up for GOD’s message. Such is GOD’s guidance; He bestows it upon whomever He wills. As for those sent astray by GOD, nothing can guide them.

 ٱللَّهُ نَزَّلَ أَحْسَنَ ٱلْحَدِيثِ كِتَـٰبًا مُّتَشَـٰبِهًا مَّثَانِىَ تَقْشَعِرُّ مِنْهُ جُلُودُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ذَٰلِكَ هُدَى ٱللَّهِ يَهْدِى بِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ وَمَن يُضْلِلِ ٱللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُۥ مِنْ هَادٍ

[39:29] GOD cites the example of a man who deals with disputing partners (Hadith), compared to a man who deals with only one consistent source (Quran). Are they the same? Praise be to GOD; most of them do not know.

 ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا رَّجُلًا فِيهِ شُرَكَآءُ مُتَشَـٰكِسُونَ وَرَجُلًا سَلَمًا لِّرَجُلٍ هَلْ يَسْتَوِيَانِ مَثَلًا ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ