Subject Matter of the Narrative:
According to Bayhaqiy’s narrative no. 5080 it is reported:
روي أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: لا تعلموا قريشا، تعلموا منها. ولا تقدموا قريشا، ولا تأخروا عنها. فإن القرشي مثل قوة الرجلين من غيرهم.
Do not try to teach Quraish, learn from them; Neither try to overtake Quraish nor remain behind them. This is so, because a man from the tribe of Quraish has double the power of a man from any other tribe.
Similar narratives, with some variations and additions, are also reported in Abd Al-Razzaq’s narrative no. 19893 and Ibn Abi Shaybah’s narrative no. 32386.
Comment on the Narrative
This narrative has been reported by Sah’l ibn Abi Hathmah. After recording this narrative, Bayhaqiy has commented upon it in the following words:
هذا مرسل وروي موصولا وليس بالقوي.This is a Mursal narrative. It has also been reported with a complete chain of narrators, but that is not strong.
‘Mursal’ is a term used for a chain in which the last person reporting from the Prophet (pbuh) has not heard the saying from the Prophet (pbuh), and has not even mentioned the link between himself and the Prophet (pbuh).
Conclusion
Because this narrative has been reported only through the chain which has been termed as ‘Mursal‘ by Bayhaqiy, therefore, it would only be prudent not to accept the narrative as reliable.
This write-up is prepared by the Hadith Cell of Javed Ahmad Ghamidi