Citing a weak Hadeeth about the Prophet's good moral character
4-1-2015 | IslamWeb
Question:
Assalamu Alaykum. I am writing a da'wah article in my language which includes a section about the good character of Prophet Muhmmad (peace be upon him) towards his wife. I came accross this statement " I have not seen anybody who has better moral character than the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam. I want to use this statement of Safiyyah may Allah be pleased with her, but I do not know if it is authentic or not. Can I use it?
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
This report was cited by Abu Ya‘la in his Musnad and by At-Tabaraani in his book Al-Mu‘jam Al-Awsat. Its chain of narrators is somewhat weak. Al-Buseeri said: "The Isnaad (chain of narration) of this report is weak because the Taabi‘i is unknown." [It-haaf Al-Khiyarati Al-Maharah]
However, the weakness of a report's chain of narration does not prevent citing it. There is no harm in citing it in your article as long as you attribute it to its narrators and underline its weakness. Muslim scholars have always cited reports with weak Isnaads in their writings. The report's weakness does not entail rejecting it entirely and abstaining from referring to it.
It should be noted that the meaning of the report is undoubtedly correct. Abu ‘Abdullaah Al-Jadali once asked ‘Aa’ishah 
"How was the character of the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, towards his wives?" She replied, "He was the best of all people in character." [Ahmad] [Ibn Hibbaan: Saheeh (sound)]
Anas 
said: "The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was the best among people in character." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Al-Baraa’ said, "The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was the handsomest of all the people, and the best of them in character." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Allaah Knows best.