English translation
2906. Al-Ḥārith Al-A'war said: "I passed by the Masjid when the people were absorbed in storytelling. So I entered upon 'Ali and said: 'O Commander of the believers! Do you not see the people are becoming engrossed in story-telling?" He said: "They have been consumed with it?" I said: "Yes." He said: "As for me, I heard the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ saying: "Indeed there comes a Fitnah" So I said: "What is the way out from it O Messenger of Allāh?" He said: "Allāh's Book. In it is news of what happened before you, and information about what comes after you, and judgment for what happens between you. It is the Criterion (between right and wrong) without jest. Whoever among the oppressive abandons it, Allāh crushes him, and whoever seeks guidance from other than it, then Allāh leaves him to stray. It is the firm rope of Allāh, it is the wise remembrance, it is the straight path, and it is the one that the desires can not distort, nor can the tongues twist it, nor can the scholars ever have enough of it, and it shall not become dull from reciting it much, and the amazement of it does not diminish. It is the one that when the Jinns heard it, they did not hesitate to say about it: 'Verily, we have heard a wonderful Recitation (this Qur'an)! 'It guides to the Right Path, and we have believed therein.' Whoever speaks according to it then he has said the truth, and whoever acts according to it he is rewarded, and whoever judges by it he has judged justly, and whoever invites to it then he guides to the straight path.'" Take this O A'war!". (Da'if) [Abū 'Eisā said:] This Hadīth is Gharīb, we do not know of it except through the narration of Hamzah Az-Zayyāt, and in its chain there is an unknown person. There is also criticism about the narrations of Al-Ĥārīth.