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‘He is bigger/greater, but I am elder’


What is the source, and authenticity of this narration?

Sayyiduna ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhu) was once asked, ‘Who is older; you or Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)?” Sayyiduna ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, ‘He, is greater than me but I was born before him (I am older than him).”



Imam Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah, Imam Hakim and Imam Tabarani (rahimahumullah) have recorded this narration.

‘Allamah Haythami (rahimahullah) has authenticated the narrators of Imam Tabarani.

(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 26781, Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 3 pg. 320. Refer: Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 9 pg. 270 and footnotes of Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah on Musannaf. Also see: Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 3619)



And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.


Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala


Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar,

This illustrates the extreme reverence that Sayyiduna ‘Abbas (radiyallahu’anhu) had for Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam), despite being His uncle.


Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar