Textual Manipulation {Tahrif} in Kitab al Azkar of Imam Nawawi Shafai on the topic of Ziyarat un Nabi ~sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam~

Textual Manipulation {‘Tahrif’} in ‘Kitab al Azkar’ of Imam Nawawi Shafai’ on the topic of ‘Ziyarat un Nabi’~sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam~

One of the leading experts of Hadith research in India-Shaykh Allama Usayd ul Haq Asim Azhari Quadri Badayuni collected numerous examples of Textual Manipulations {‘Tahrif’} of the Wahhabiya –Salafiya in modern times. Among these manipulations is their extremist and anti-Islamic policy of changing and deleting the Hadiths mentioned on the topic of ‘Ziyarat un Nabi’ ~sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam~ in the authentic and famous books of past scholars.

One such example mentioned by Allama Usayd ul Haq Badayuni is the publication of ‘Kitab ul Azkar’ of Imam Nawawi from ‘Dar ul Huda, Riyadh’ in 1409 A.H in which they have changed the wordings of the Chapter and its contents! The page 295 of this Salafi edition of ‘Kitab al Azkar’ is a proof of this ‘Tahrif’!

Imam Nawawi- an ardent lover of the Beloved Rasul-Allah ~sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam~ named the Chapter as ‘Fasl Fi Ziyarat Qabr Rasul-Allahi wa Azkaruha’ which can be seen in all the other editions of ‘Kitab ul Azkar’ and its numerous manuscripts through out the world. But the publication house ‘Dar ul Huda’ changed the word ‘Qabr’ with ‘Masjid’ and removed the words ‘Wa Azkaruha’ and re-named it as ‘Fasl fi Ziyarat Masjid Rasul-Allah’!

This textual manipulation also shows their hatred towards the visitation of Madinah Munawwarah with the intention of visiting the Beloved Rasul-Allah ~sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam~

Moreover, they even changed the contents of this Chapter. Imam Nawawi writes:

“It should be known that whoever completes Hajj, it is better for him to visit Rasul-Allah ~sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam~ whether it is on his wayor not in his way because visiting the Prophet is the most Important means of gaining Nearness {‘Taqarrub’} from numerous other acts, the most Beneficial among other struggles, and the most Meritorious {‘Afzal’} amongst other wants.”

The Wahhabi-Salafi publishers changed it as follows: “It should be known that whoever intends to visit the Masjid of Rasul-Allah ~sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam~, it is Desirable {‘Mustahab’} for them to recite excessive ‘Salat’ {‘Durud’} on him.”

The Publishers have not stopped at this ‘Tahrif’ only, but also removed the Faith boosting Hadith of Sayyiduna Utabi. The Hadith which they removed is as follows:

Sayyiduna Utabi' states that: “I was sitting near the Grave of the Prophet when a Bedouin came and said, “As Salamu Alayka Ya Rasul Allah (Peace be upon You O Prophet). I have heard an Ayah of the Holy Quran... “If they had been unjust to themselves......” Therefore, I have come to you to seek Forgiveness for my Sins and make you as ‘Shafee’’ (Interceder) before my Lord. Then he said the following couplets...

Ya Khayra min Dufinat BilQaai’ A’zamuhu

Khata min Teebihinna al Qaau wal Akamu

Nafsil Fidaau li Qabrin Anta Sakinuhu

Fihil Ifafu wa Fihi il Judu wal Karamu

(“O! The most superior person to be buried in this land, Due to whose fragnance the grounds and hills got perfumed. My Life be sacrificed on this Grave in which you are resting, In this is chastity and in this is generosity.” .......’ Utabi’ says: ‘After saying these couplets, the Bedouin returned and I slept. I saw the Prophet in my Dream who was saying, ‘O Utabi! Go and give Glad-Tidings to that Bedouin that Allah Almighty has Forgiven him!’”

Imam Nawawi mentions this Faith enlightening incident in ‘Kitab ul Azkar’ and can be seen in all the famous editions of this book, but the Salafi publishers have deliberately removed this Hadith because of they could not accept and endorse such love of Sahaba and Tabiyin which they say is ‘Shirk’!

They did this textual manipulation because it proves the following:

i. It is correct to address the Beloved Rasul-Allah ~sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam~ with the word- ‘Ya Rasul Allah’ even after his Death.

ii. It is correct to travel to visit his noble Grave.

iii. It is correct to Supplicate (Make Dua’ at his Grave.

iv. It is correct to seek the Forgiveness of the Prophet apart from the Forgiveness of Allah Almighty .

v. It is correct to Plead and Request the Prophet to seek one’s Forgiveness.

vi. The Supplication (‘Dua’ asked at his Grave is accepted by Allah Almighty.

vii. The Beloved Prophet Listens and Seeks for our Forgiveness when requested.

viii. It is correct to make the Prophet as a ‘Shafee’ (Interceder) in our worldly lives.

ix. It is correct to recite Eulogies (‘Naat’ at his Grave.

x. The Beloved Rasul Allah is Alive in his Grave!

They hold that all the above ten Beliefs and Actions to be ‘Shirk’ and claim this Hadith promotes and validates ‘Shirk’! But, they forget that this same Hadith is also mentioned by the famous Sunni Ashari scholar whom the Salafiya also admire and revere – Imam Hafiz Ibn Kathir in ‘Tafsir Ibn Kathir; 1: 532’ !

The above incident is not the only one on the immense blessings and rewards which one can achieve by ‘Ziyarat un Nabi’ ~sal Allahu alyhi wa sallam~, Another incident which collaborates and authenticates the above Hadith of Sayyiduna Utabi is mentioned by the great Muhaddith, Imam Daylmi in ‘Musnad al Firdaws’ as follows:

“ Ali said, ‘A Bedouin came to us 3 days after the Burial of the Prophet. He rubbed himself on the Grave of the Prophet and threw sand from the Grave of the Prophet on his face and recited this Ayah, "If they had been unjust to themselves, had come to you and begged Allah’s Forgiveness, and the Messenger had begged Forgiveness for them: Indeed, they would have found Allah All- Forgiving, Most Merciful." And said: ‘Ya Rasul Allah! I have been unjust to myself and have come in your court, You seek Forgiveness for me.’ A Voice came from the Grave that, ‘You have been Forgiven!” {Tafsir al Qurtubi; 5:265}

This same incident is also mentioned in ‘Tafsir Madarik ul Tanzil (1:36’ by Imam Ahmad bin Mahmud Nasafi Hanafi and in ‘Shawahid ul Haq; 87’ by Imam Yusuf bin Ismail Nabhani Shafai’.

Why Did they Do This?

This is an important question one must ask for themselves; and what forced them to change and manipulate the books of Hadiths in order to suit their beliefs and doctrines. Surely, the reason is clear to the men of intellect and knowledge, they are wrong in their Beliefs and Doctrines and the books of Hadith clearly refute them and their false claims…..so what can they do except to change the Books of Hadith itself! This is not the only case of Textual Manipulation {‘Tahrif’} done by the Wahhabiya-Salafiya, numerous other Hadiths have been deliberately removed or changed to suit their heretical beliefs while the English translations of Tafsirs and Hadith books published by them are full of them, the details of which shall be Insha-Allah presented soon in another article.

The Jews are known to have done the same with their religious books as mentioned in the Holy Quran, and such actions of the modern Salafiya is indeed blameworthy and anti-Islamic. May Allah Almighty save us from their Heresies! Amin!

Was Salam,

Basharath Ali Siddiqui Hanafi Ashrafi,

Ahl us Sunnah Foundation,

Hyd, India.