Weakness of the Hadeeth: the famous Nasheed: "Tala`al Badru `alayna…"

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Shaikh Naaserud-Deen al-Albaanee رحمه الله mentioned in al-Dha`eefah:

598 – ❝When he (The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم) came to Madeenah, the Women and children began to sing:

Tala`al Badru `Alaynaa (The full moon rose over us)

Min Thaneeyaatil Wadaa` (From the valley of Wadaa` (one of the entrances into Madeenah))

Wajaba-sh Shukru `Alaynaa (Giving thanks is mandatory upon us)

Maa Da`aa Lillaahi Daa` (As long as a caller is calling to Allaah).❞

Ruling: “Dha`eef”

Abu al-Hasan al-Khula`eey reported in “al-Fawaa’id” (2/59) and al-Baihaqee in “Dalaa’il al-Nubuwwah” (2/233) from Fadhal Ibn al-Hibaab, who said: I heard `Ubaidullaah Ibn Muhammad Ibn `Aaishah saying… and he mentioned the Hadeeth.

The Isnaad of this narration is weak; the narrators are trustworthy, but three or more narrators are missing from the chain, so it is considered “Mu`dhal”. Ibn `Aaishah is one of the Shuyookh (teachers) of Imaam Ahmad (and Abu Dawood), and he narrated it through Irsaal (i.e., omitting the names of his teachers). And this is what al-Haafidh al-`Iraaqee mentioned in his checking of “al-Ihyaa’” (2/244).

[TN: Ibn `Aaishah died in the year 228 AH, and was as such, at least 120 years away from the event of the Hijrah, making absolutely clear the wide broken link between the narrator and the narration.]

Al-Baihaqee said (in “Dalaa’il al-Nubuwwah”), and from him Ibn Katheer reported it in “al-Bidaayah wal-Nihaayah”, that al-Baihaqee said: “This is how our scholars have reported it, that this was said (by the people of Madeenah), when (the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم) came (to Madeenah) from Makkah; and not when he came to Madeenah through the valley of Wadaa` (after the battle of) Tabook.”

But Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله refuted it (i.e. the statement of al-Baihaqee) in “al-Zaad al-Ma`aad” (3/13), saying: “It is a clear conjecture because (the valley) “Thaniyyaat al-Wadaa`” is in the direction of al-Shaam (i.e. to the north of Madeenah); people coming from Makkah to Madeenah do not even see it, and nor does anyone pass through it except those who are going to (or coming from) al-Shaam.”

--end of quite from al-Dha`eefah (2/63)

Ibn al-Hajar also graded this narration as “Mu`dhal” (weak because two or three consecutive narrators are missing from its chain). [Fath al-Baaree (7/261)]

He also said: “Perhaps it may have happened when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم returned from the Tabook expedition (Ghazwah).” [Fath al-Baaree (7/262)]

Some historians have said that there are two “Thaniyyaat al-Wadaa`”, what is confirmed is the one to the north, in the direction of al-Shaam. But there is a dispute regarding the one in the direction of Makkah.

Conclusion: There are two defects regarding this incident:

A) There is no doubt about the severe weakness of the Isnaad of this narration, as three or more consecutive narrators are missing from its chain. Scholars who graded it as “Weak” include Ibn Hajar, al-`Iraaqee, and al-Albaanee رحمهم الله.

B) There is a dispute regarding the place of the valley, and whether it occurred when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم came from Tabook or from Makkah.

And Allaah knows best.