Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,
I pray that this finds you well, and in the best of health and spirits. May Allah grant you all good and success in this life and the next.
Imam Sakhawi said in al-Maqasid al-Hasana:
"The hadith: 'Whoever knows themselves knows their Lord.
Abu al-Mudhaffar ibn al-Sam`ani said....,"It is not established as a Prophetic hadith. Rather, it is related from Yahya ibn al-Mu`adh al-Razi--that is, from his words."
This is also what Imam Nawawi said, affirming that, "It is not established." [Sakhawi, al-Maqasid al-Hasana 1.220]
Imam Saghani considered it a fabricated (mawdu`) hadith. [Saghani, al-Mawdu`at, 1.2] Other major works on fabricated hadiths state likewise.
Thus, this would not be permissible to ascribe to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). However, the words themselves are sound in meaning, and the great masters of the spiritual path quoted them extensively.
The meaning is also established by clear texts of the Qur'an and Sunna, such as the words of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), "Be mindful of Allah, and you'll find Him before you." [Tirmidhi, and others]
And Allah alone gives success.
Faraz Rabbani
حديث: من عرف نفسه فقد عرف ربه، قال أبو المظفر ابن السمعاني في الكلام على التحسين والتقبيح العقلي من القواطع أنه لا يعرف مرفوعاً، وإنما يحكي عن يحيى بن معاذ الرازي يعني من قوله، وكذا قال النووي: إنه ليس بثابت، وقيل في تأويله من عرف نفسه بالحدوث عرف ربه بالقدم ومن عرف نفسه بالفناء عرف ربه بالبقاء.
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