Benefits & Rulings:

➊ A fabricated narration falsely attributed to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is called a "mawdu‘" (fabricated) hadith.

➋ A few key rulings about fabricated hadiths are as follows:

✦ It is unanimously prohibited to narrate a fabricated hadith, except when doing so to warn others against it.

➌ The following are some criteria scholars have mentioned to identify a fabricated hadith:

(a) If a liar openly admits that he has fabricated certain narrations in the name of the Prophet (peace be upon him) — as was the case with Abu ‘Asimah Nuh ibn Abi Maryam, who falsely invented merits of certain Qur’anic chapters and confessed to it.

(b) If someone claims to have heard hadiths from teachers who passed away before his birth or with whom he never actually met in his lifetime.

(c) If a person narrates hadiths that promote the virtues of his own group and condemn opponents.

(d) If the language of the narration is vulgar or extremely inappropriate — such that it is impossible for such words to have come from the tongue of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

➍ Scholars have also mentioned several reasons why people fabricated hadiths. These reasons expose the harmful motives behind them, especially when such narrations are acted upon or propagated in the name of good deeds:

– To support one's own sect or condemn others.
– To gain the favor of rulers.
– To mock or attack Islam.
– For material gain or fame.

➎ Fabricated narrations damage the sanctity of Prophethood, disrespect the scholars and imams of Islam, distort the clear and beautiful image of Islam, and contribute to the rise of harmful innovations. Therefore, it is absolutely forbidden to narrate them.

➏ A few examples highlighting the danger of fabricated hadiths:

(a) A liar named ‘Umar ibn Musa falsely attributed the following statement to the Prophet (peace be upon him):
“When Allah is angry, He sends down revelation in Arabic, and when He is pleased, He sends down revelation in Persian.”
In response, another liar named Isma‘il fabricated the opposite:
“The most disliked language to Allah is Persian, and the language of the people of Paradise is Arabic.”

(b) A notorious liar named Ma’mun ibn Ahmad al-Dajjal fabricated a narration to criticize Imam al-Shafi‘i (may Allah have mercy on him) and praise Imam Abu Hanifah (may Allah have mercy on him). He falsely claimed the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“In my nation, there will be a man named Muhammad ibn Idris (i.e., al-Shafi‘i), who will be more harmful to my Ummah than Iblis. And there will be a man named Abu Hanifah, who will be a lamp for my Ummah.”

➐ Recommended books to study in order to better identify fabricated hadiths:

✦ Kitab al-Mawdu‘at by Abu’l-Faraj ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Ali ibn al-Jawzi
✦ Al-La’ali al-Masnu‘ah by Imam al-Suyuti
✦ Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Da‘ifah wa’l-Mawdu‘ah by Shaykh al-Albani