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 (intentionally) then (surely) let him occupy, his seat in Hellfire.
Exposition of the Hadith
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari (107) in the Book of Knowledge contains profound wisdom regarding the sanctity of Prophetic traditions. The question posed to Az-Zubair ibn al-Awwam, a renowned Companion, reveals the meticulous care the Companions exercised in transmitting the Prophet's teachings.
Scholarly Commentary
Az-Zubair's response demonstrates the principle of verification (tathabbut) in Islamic scholarship. His limited transmission was not from negligence but from extreme caution, fearing even unintentional error in relating the Prophet's words.
The severe warning mentioned - "Whoever tells a lie against me intentionally, let him occupy his seat in Hellfire" - establishes the gravity of attributing false statements to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Classical scholars like Imam al-Nawawi explain this applies to both fabricating hadith and knowingly transmitting forged narrations.
Legal and Ethical Implications
This hadith forms the foundation of the science of Hadith criticism (Mustalah al-Hadith). It compelled early scholars to develop rigorous methodologies for verifying chains of transmission (isnad) and text (matn).
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, in his commentary Fath al-Bari, emphasizes that this warning extends to those who transmit without proper verification, highlighting the collective responsibility in preserving the purity of Islamic teachings.