ANSWER
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
Although generally the book ‘Al Jarh wat ta’deel’ is authentic
and regarded as a basis for the science of Hadith criticism, it is not
sufficient for every report to be accepted merely because it appears
in this book. Every report will have to be scrutinized separately.
This is similar to how Sunan Abi Dawood or Sunan at Tirmidhi
are books which are generally accepted, however every narration in
these books would not be accepted merely because of appearing in them.
Rather they would have to be looked at separately. Likewise, every
report of ‘Al Jarh wat ta’deel’ will have to be viewed at
separately.
When we look at the reports quoted about Imam Abu Hanifa (May Allah
Ta'ala be pleased with him), we find that every report has some defect
in it which would cause it to be dismissed.
Introduction
At the outset, it is essential to understand a few basic principles in
the science of Al Jarh wat ta’deel. One of the primary
conditions for the Jarh or tadeel to be accepted is the
scholar should not have any ta’assub against the one whom he is
criticizing. Allamah Abdul Ali Laknawi (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on
him) mentions in Fawatih ar Rahmoot (2/154),
“It is essential for the Muzakki to be just and knowledgeable of the
causes of Jarh and ta’deel. He should be fair, sincere, and he should
not be a fanatic or self-conceited.”
Moulana Abdul Hay Laknawi (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) has
said,
“That Jarh which emanates because of prejudice, enmity, rancor etc
would be rejected.”
(Ar Rafu wat takmeel, pg.409)
Shaykh Abdul Fattah (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) mentions in
the marginalia,
“(Similarly is the case) with criticism which emanates because of
jealousy or difference in Aqeedah”
(Ibid)
Likewise, the vilification of a contemporary will not be accepted.
Moulana Abdul Hay (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) mentions,
“Therefore, (Muhaddithoon) mention that the criticism of one
contemporary will not be accepted against another contemporary if it
has no proof…”
(Ibid, 415)
Allamah Dhahabi (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) has said,
“All praise is due to Allah, majority of the criticisms of
contemporaries are not accepted.”(Mizan
al I’tidaal, 3/607)
He also said,
“The criticisms of contemporaries against one another are not
accepted, especially when it comes to light that the criticism is
because of enmity, different methodologies or jealousy…”Ibid,
1/111)
He also mentions in Tadhkirah al Huffadh (2/172), “No
consideration is given to the criticisms of contemporaries against one
another.”
Another law in the science of Jarh wat ta’deel is that no
consideration will be given to that criticism which is against such
person whose integrity has been firmly established. Allamah Ibn Hajar
(May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) narrates in Tahdeeb at
tahdheeb (7/273) that Imam Ahmad (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on
him) has said,
“Every person whose ‘adalah’ has been established, the criticism of no
person will be accepted against that person until it is established
with such solid evidence then only the criticism can be accepted.”
Having said the above, we now proceed to scrutinize the various
reports which has been narrated…
·
The first allegation which Ibn Abi Hatim has quoted is that Ibn al-Mubarak,
in his later period, stopped narrating from Abu Hanifa. Ibn Abi Hatim
says, “I heard my father say that.”
-There is inqitaa’ (interruption) in the chain of transmission
of this report. The father of Ibn Abi Hatim [b. 195] was not even
born when Abdullah bin Mubarak [d. 181!] passed away. Therefore, there
is a missing link/links in the chain between the father of Ibn Abi
Hatim and Abdullah bin Mubarak (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on them).
(Makanah al-Imam Abi Hanifa lil Harithi, 230) How then can such
a report constitute reliable evidence, when the chain of transmission
of such a report is cut off and misses one, two, or more narrators?
Furthermore, this contradicts the established position that Ibn al-Mubarak
(May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) never stopped taking hadith from
Imam Abu Hanifah (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) whether in his
early or his later period. Ali bin Madini (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy
on him) said:
“From Abu Hanifa narrated: al-Thawri, Ibn al-Mubarak...”
(Al-Khayrat al-hisan, p. 74, Muqaddimah ta’leeq al mumajjad,
1/122 and Al-Qurashi in al-Jawahir al-mudiyya, 1/29).
This is also stated by Imam Mizzi (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him)
in his notice on Abu Hanifa (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) in
Tahdhib al-kamal and Imam Dhahabi (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on
him) in Manaqib Abi Hanifa (p. 20) and is confirmed by the
following reports,
-Abu Wahb Muhammad ibn Muzahim (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him)
said: I heard Ibn al-Mubarak say: “The most knowledgeable of people
in fiqh (afqah al-nas) is Abu Hanifa. I have never seen anyone like
him in fiqh.” Ibn al-Mubarak also said: “If Allah had not
rescued me through Abu Hanifa and Sufyan I would have been like the
rest of the common people.” (Tahdheeb at tahdheeb, 10/450)
-In another narration, Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak (May Allah Ta'ala have
mercy on him) said: “If Allah had not benefitted me through Abu
Hanifa and Sufyan al-Thawri, I would have been an innovator.” (Manaqib
al imam Abi Hanifa lil Kawthari, 19).
- In another place, Ibn al-Mubarak (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on
him) praised Imam Abu Hanifa (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) and
called him a sign of Allah. (Ibid, Manaqib al Imam Abi Hanifa lidh
Dhahabi, 30).
- He also said, “If there is any person whose opinion is worthy of
being followed, it is that of Imam Abu Hanifa.” (ibid 31)
- Abdaan says that he heard Ibn Mubarak (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy
on him) saying, “When I hear people speaking ill of Imam Abu Hanifa,
I become displeased and I fear the displeasure of Allah on them.”
(ibid 36)
- Both Ibn al-Mubarak and Sufyan al-Thawri (May Allah Ta'ala have
mercy on both of them) said, “Abu Hanifa was the most knowledgeable
of all people on the surface of this earth.” Ibn Hajar (May Allah
Ta'ala have mercy on him) related it in his notice on Imam Abu Hanifa
in Tahdhib al-tahdhib and Ibn Kathir (May Allah Ta'ala have
mercy on him) narrated it in al-Bidaya wa al-nihaya (10:107).
- Hibban ibn Musa said: Ibn al-Mubarak (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on
him) was asked, “Who is more knowledgeable in fiqh, Malik or Abu
Hanifa?” He replied: “Abu Hanifa!” (Tarikh al-islam, 6/142
and Manaqib Abi Hanifa, p. 32).
- He also said, “Imam Abu Hanifa was the most knowledgeable in fiqh,
I have not seen anyone more knowledgeable than him.” (Tarikh
Baghdad, 13/343 and Al Khayraat al hisaan, p.75)
- It is further narrated from him, “If we do not find a hadith from
Nabi
صلي الله عليه وسلم
then the verdict of Imam Abu Hanifa is like a hadith for us.”
(Uqood al jaman, 189)
And there are numerous other reports where Imam Abdullah bin Mubarak
praised Imam Abu Hanifa. The following couplets are narrated from Ibn
al Mubarak
with an authentic chain in Tahdheeb al kamal:
تهذيب الكمال - (29 / 441)
رأيت أبا حنيفة كل يوم
يزيد نبالة ويزيد خيرا
وينطق بالصواب ويصطفيه
I’ve seen Imam Abu Hanifa on a daily basis he increases
in nobility and in goodness he speaks the truth
and that alone he chooses
إذا ما قال أهل الجور جورا يقايس من يقايسه
بلب
فمن ذا تجعلون له نظيرا
When the tyrants speak with oppression he engages
them with academic proofs using acumen who will
you put for him as a comparison
كفانا فقد حماد وكانت
مصيبتنا به أمرا كبيرا فرد شماتة الأعداء عنا
The loss of Hammaad was a sufficient great calamity for us
However, he has averted the taunting of the enemies from
us
وأبدى بعده علما كثيرا
رأيت أبا حنيفة حين يؤتى
ويطلب علمه بحرا غزيرا
After him, he manifested a great deal of knowledge I’ve
seen Abu Hanifa when he was brought and his knowledge
was sought, he had a deep ocean of knowledge
إذا ما المشكلات تدافعتها رجال العلم كان بها بصيرا
When such intricacies come up which
scholars cannot give solutions to
Imam Abu Hanifa has much insight in it
·
The second report quoted by Ibn Abi Hatim is a narration where Sufyaan
Thawri has criticized Imam Abu Hanifa.
There are numerous narrations which affirm that Sufyan (May Allah
Ta'ala have mercy on him) had great regard for Imam Abu Hanifa. He has
mentioned in explicit terms,
“We were with Abu Hanifa like small birds in front of the falcon.”
(Ar rafu’ wat takmeel (p. 395), Tabyid al-sahifa (p. 32)
and Allamah Thanwi in his book Inja' al-watan (1:19-22).
When someone returned from the gathering of Imam Abu Hanifa, Sufyaan
(May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) said to him,
“You have returned from the most knowledgeable person.”
(Al Khayraat al hisaan, 72).
Imam Abu Yusuf (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) has said,
“Sufyaan Thawri follows Imam Abu Hanifa more than me.”
(Uqud al jaman, 191)
It was because of this great regard that Sufyan Thawri (May Allah
Ta'ala have mercy on him) had for Imam Abu Hanifa that he always took
hadith from Imam Abu Hanifa. Ali ibn al-Madini (May Allah Ta'ala have
mercy on him) said:
“From Abu Hanifa narrated: al-Thawri, Ibn al-Mubarak…”
(Al-Khayrat al-hisan (p. 74) and Al-Jawahir al-mudiyya
(1:29).
The aforementioned are some of the reasons why any criticism
attributed to Sufyan al-Thawri (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him)
regarding Imam Abu Hanifa (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) is
rejected. Allamah al-Subki (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) said,
as narrated in Qawa`id fi `ulum al-hadith (p. 195) as well as his
Qa`ida fi al-jarh wa al-ta`dil (p. 53-55),
“No regard whatsoever is given to Ath-Thawri's criticism of Abu Hanifa
or that of other than al-Thawri against him.”
The same statement is also found in Allamah Haytami's al-Khayrat al-hisan
(p. 74) and is echoed by Moulana `Abd al-Hayy al-Lacknawi in his al-Raf`
wa al-takmil (p. 425),
“Beware, beware of paying any attention to what supposedly took place
(of enmity) between Abu Hanifa and Sufyan al-Thawri!”
This is also enunciated in Shaykh Abdul Fattah Abu Ghudda's marginalia
on Allamah Subki's and Allamah Lacknawi's works.
Nevertheless, even if we do assume Imam Sufyan al-Thawry’s accusations
on Imam Abu Hanifa are true, then too, it would be rejected, since the
criticisms of a contemporary are not valid. (Ar rafu’ wat takmeel
(p. 395)
Furthermore, the reliability of Imam Abu Hanifa (May Allah Ta'ala have
mercy on him) is proven and accepted by the vast majority of scholars.
To challenge this with a report as feeble as the above would be absurd
and irrational.
·
Next Ibn Abi Hatim quotes a narration where Imam Waki criticized Imam
Abu Hanifah.
Waki (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) used to ardently follow Imam
Abu Hanifa in his Fiqhi rulings; Allamah Dhahabi (May Allah Ta'ala
have mercy on him) relates in his Tadhkirat al-huffaz (1/306)
under the biography of Waki` that Imam Yahya ibn Ma`in (May Allah
Ta'ala have mercy on him) has said,
“I have not seen anyone better than Waki`, he spends his night in
prayer, fasts without interruption, and issues fatwa according to the
verdict of Abu Hanifa, and Yahya al-Qattan also used to give fatwa
according to what Abu Hanifa said.”
(Also narrated in Al-Intiqa, 1/136)
Hafiz Al-Qurashi (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) in his Al-Jawahir
al-mudiyya fi manaqib al-hanafiyya (2/208-209) said,
“Waki` took the Science from Abu Hanifa and received a great deal from
him.”
Besides fiqh, Waki (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) also took many
narrations from Imam Abu Hanifah (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him).
It is mentioned in Tahdhib at tahdhib, “From him narrated: ….Waki`
(ibn al-Jarrah al-Kufi)…”
Likewise, Allamah Al-Haytami (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) in
al-Khayrat al-hisan (p. 74) and Allamah Al-Qurashi (May Allah
Ta'ala have mercy on him) in al-Jawahir al-mudiyya (1/29)
narrated that Ali ibn al-Madini (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him)
said:
“From Abu Hanifa narrated: ….al Waki.”
In fact, once when someone spoke ill of Imam Abu Hanifa (May Allah
Ta'ala have mercy on him) in the presence of Waki (May Allah Ta'ala
have mercy on him) , the latter scolded him and said,
“Whoever says this (speaks ill of Imam Saheb), he is like an animal
and even worst…”
(Al Khayrat al hisaan, p. 72)
Waki (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) also said,
“I have not met anyone more knowledgeable than Imam Abu Hanifa, nor
anyone who prayed better salah than him.”(Tareekh
Baghdad, 13/345)
Again, even if we have to assume that the criticisms of Waki (May
Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) are true, then too, they would have to
be dismissed since Waki (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) was a
contemporary of Imam Abu Hanifa (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him).
Hence, to challenge the integrity of Imam Abu Hanifa with such a
flimsy report would be against logic.
·
The next report which Ibn Abi Hatim quotes is where Yahya bin Saeed
mentioned that he did not go close to Imam Abu Hanifa and he did not
ask him anything in spite of being his neighbor.
This again goes against the established narration from Yahya bin Saeed
(May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him). There are numerous reports which
show that he did not only hold Imam Abu Hanifa (May Allah Ta'ala have
mercy on him) in great esteem, but he also followed Imam Abu Hanifa in
all his fiqhi rulings. Allamah Dhahabi (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on
him) relates in his Tadhkirat al-huffaz (1:306) under the
biography of Waki` that Imam Yahya ibn Ma`in (May Allah Ta'ala have
mercy on him) has said,
“…and Yahya al-Qattan also used to give fatwa according to what Abu
Hanifa said.”
Ahmad ibn `Ali ibn Sa`id Al-Qadi (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him)
said,
I heard Yahya ibn Ma`in (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) say,
I heard Yahya ibn Sa`id al-Qattan (Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal’s greatest
shaykh) say, “This is no lie on our part, by Allah! We have not
heard better than Abu Hanifa’s opinion, and we have followed most of
his sayings.” (Tahdheeb at tahdheeb, 10/450, Manaqib Abi
Hanifa (p. 32).
Nevertheless, even if we accept this narration of Yahya bin Saeed (May
Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him), it would still have to be dismissed
since it is an accepted fact in that the criticism of a contemporary
is not accepted. (Makanah al-Imam Abi Hanifa lil Harithi, 230)
Thus, the above narration does not hold any weight in comparison to
those narrations which proves the integrity of Imam Abu Hanifa and is
established through tawatur.
·
Ibrahim ibn Ya`qub al-Jawzajani (d. 259) wrote on the authority of Abd
al-Rahman al-Muqri' (d. 185) that the latter said, Abu Hanifa would
talk to us, after which he would say, “All that you have heard is wind
and null and void” (hadha al-ladhi sami`tum kulluhu rih wa batil).
This is one of those reports which is defective, both because of its
sanad (chain of transmission) as well as for its matn (text).
As for the matn, it is absurd and highly farfetched to think that such
a great scholar like Imam Abu Hanifa (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on
him) will waste his time by narrating hadith and then he himself will
say that everything is null and void.
As for the sanad, many great scholars, the likes of Ibn Hibbaan and
Allamah Dhahabi (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on them both) have graded
Ibrahim bin Yaqoob al-Jawzjani as being weak. (Al Wafi bil wafayaat
(5/130), Mizan al I’tidaal (4/161).
Shaykh Al-Harithi has further suggested that there is inqitaa’
(interruption) in the transmission of this narration. He mentions that
Yaqoob al-Jawzjani passed away in the year 259 A.H whereas Abu Abdur
Rahman al-Muqri passed away long before; in the year 185. Hence the
inqitaa is apparent. (Makanah al-Imam Abi Hanifa lil Harithi,
231)
Finally, Ibrahim bin Yaqoob was bias against the people of Kufa.
Allamah Kawthari (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) mentions,
“There is consensus that his verdict regarding the people of Kufa is
not accepted” (Taneeb al kateeb 183).
How then can we rely on such a feeble narration and degrade a great
scholar like Imam Abu Hanifa?
·
Ibn Abi Hatim further claims on the written authority of the same
Ibrahim ibn Ya`qub al-Jawzajani that Ishaq ibn Rahawayh said: I heard
Jarir say: Muhammad ibn Jabir al-Yamami said: “Abu Hanifa stole
Hammad's books from me”!
This is another report which is defective, both because of its chain
as well as its text.
In the chain there is a narrator, Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Yamani with
regards to whom Ibn Abi Hatim (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him)
himself mentioned in al-Jarh (1/219),
“Da`if kathir al-wahm, ‘He is weak and many times imagines things’!”
Other scholars who declared him as weak are:
1)
Imam Yahya bin Ma`in in his Tarikh (1/201),
2)
Imam Nasa'i in al-Du`afa' wa al-matrukin (p. 533),
3)
Imam `Uqayli in al-Du`afa al kabeer' (4/41),
4)
Imam Ibn Hibban in al-Majruhin (2/270),
5)
Imam Ibn `Adi in al-Kamil fi al-du`afa' (6/2158),
6)
Imam Bukhari in At Tarikh al kabeer (1/53) and Adh
Dhu;afa as sagheer (1/103)
7)
Imam Dhahabi in al-Mughni fi al-du`afa' (#5349) and
majority of the scholars.
Its text is defective since Imam Abu Hanifa (May Allah Ta'ala have
mercy on him) would not need any of the books of fellow students since
he remained closely attached to Hammad ibn Abi Sulayman (May Allah
Ta'ala have mercy on him) for close to twenty years.
Furthermore, he could have easily attained the books of Hammaad
directly from him, since he had an extremely close bond with Hammaad
(May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him). Imam Abu Hanifa (May Allah
Ta'ala have mercy on him) was also blessed with much wealth; hence,
there was no need for him to steal what he could easily obtain by
purchase.
Finally, Abu Hanifa (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) was reputed
for his piety and extreme fear of Allah (wara`), which precludes him,
in accordance with all those who testified to his character, from
committing such a contemptible action. (See Makanah al-Imam Abi
Hanifa lil Harithi, 232)
CONCLUSION
The science of Al Jarh wat ta’deel is based on ijtihaad
and therefore, every verdict it is susceptible to error. We have seen
from the aforementioned on what weak basis’s Ibn Abi Hatim has based
his view about Imam Abu Hanifa. His verdict about Imam Abu Hanifa (May
Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) could be likened to his verdict of
Imam Bukhari; the entire Ummah have accepted Imam Bukhari (May Allah
Ta'ala have mercy on him) as being a giant in the field of hadith yet
Ibn Abi Hatim has dismissed him as being weak. Imam Kawthari (May
Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) says,
“He did not hesitate in saying about Bukhari, who was the leader of
the Huffaadh of this Ummah: ‘Abu Zurah and Abu Hatim dismissed him.”
If this is his attitude with those of his field-in the field of
riwayah-what will be his attitude with those involved in fiqh
and diraayah.” (Ta’neeb al khateeb, p. 182)
What further shows that most of the criticisms of the contemporaries
are false is the statement of Yahya bin Ma’een (May Allah Ta'ala have
mercy on him),
“I have not heard any person weakening him.”
(Al-Intiqaa, 1/127)
The great merits of Imam Abu Hanifa (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on
him) has been established through tawatur. Thousands of kitabs
have been written on his manaqib. However, there were also
accusations levelled against him which were also false.
Ibn Taymiyyah says:
There is no doubt regarding Imam Abu Hanifah’s knowledge; people later
attributed many lies to Imam Abu Hanifah which were all untrue. The
aim of such writings was to taint Imam Abu Hanifa.
[Minhaaj Al Sunnah Al Nabawe’ah, 1/259)
Imam Ibn Abdil Bar (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him), a Maliki
scholar, has said,
“Such things were attributed to Imam Abu Hanifa which were not in him
and such things were fabricated against him which were not suitable.”(Al
Khayraat al hisaan, 157)
He also says,
“Those who narrate from Imam Abu Hanifa and regard him as authentic
are much more than those who criticized him. And those who criticized
him from the scholars of Hadith mostly only criticized him for
engaging in opinion and qiyaas; but it has already passed that this is
not a defect.”
(Jami bayan al Ilm wa fadhlihi, 2/149)
Nasr bin Ali al-Khareebi (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) has
said,
“People were either jealous or ignorant of Imam Abu Hanifa…” (Tahdheeb
al kamal, 29/441)
Allamah Taj as Subki (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) mentions in
Tabaqaat al kubra,
“Beware of misconstruing their statement that ‘jarh is preferred over
tadeel’ is in its generality. The correct view is that that person
whose imamah and ‘adaalah has been firmly established, and majority of
the scholars praised him and those who criticized him were very few,
and there is also a clear indication that the jarh is initiated
because of being prejudice etc, no consideration will be given to the
jarh. If we regard the principle that ‘jarh is preferred’ as being
general, no scholar would be saved, since there is hardly an Imam
except that there are some people who criticized him.”
(At Tabaqaat al kubra, 1/187)
Moulana Abdul Hay Lacknawi (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) writes
in his introduction to At Ta’leeq al mumajjad,
“If mere criticism was a defect which would cause the one criticized
to be abandoned, then Bukhari, Muslim, Shafi, Ahmad, Malik, Muhammad
bin Ishaq and other senior Scholars would have to be dismissed. Each
of them have some condemnation and criticism attached to him. In
fact, no one was free from criticized beside the companions of Nabi
صلي الله عليه وسلم.”
(Muqaddimah At Ta’leeq al mumajjad, 1/125)
It is precisely for the above reasons that Allamah Mizzi (May Allah
Ta'ala have mercy on him) did not relate anything derogatory of Imam
Abu Hanifa (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) in his Tahdeeb al
kamaal. Allamah Dhahabi (May Allah Ta'ala be pleased with him) has
said,
“May Allah have mercy on our Shaykh Abul Hajjaaj (Al-Mizzi) for not
narrating any of those narrations which will portray Imam Abu Hanifa
as being weak.”
(Tadheeb at tahdheeb, 9/225)
N.B- Both; Allamah Dhahabi and Allamah Dhahabi are Shafia.
We conclude with the golden statement of the great scholar of
Hadith, Hafidh Ibn Hajar (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him);
when he was asked about Imam Nasai’s vilification of Imam Abu Hanifa,
he replied by saying,
“An Nasai is a great scholar of hadith. The statements which he has
mentioned is in accordance to what became manifest to him and are the
conclusion of his ijtihaad. There is no being whose every statement is
accepted (besides Nabi
صلي الله عليه وسلم).
A group of Muhadithoon has agreed with Imam Nasai. Imam Khateeb has
written in much detail concerning Imam Abu Hanifa in his Tarikh. Some
statements which he cited are accepted and some are rejected.
A possible excuse for Imam Abu Hanifa is that he was of the view that
one of the conditions of narrating a hadith is that a person should
remember the hadith from the time he heard it until he narrates it.
Therefore, his narrations are relatively less because of this.
Otherwise, he had many Ahadith.
In short, it is better not to engage in this. Imam Abu Hanifa and
others have already crossed the bridge and as a result nothing that
anyone says against any of them can have any effect. They are in the
highest level, where Allah Ta’ala has raised them, through their being
Imams that are followed and through whom one reaches guidance. Let
this be clearly understood, and Allah is the Giver of success.
(Al Jawahir wad durar 2/946-947)
4) The best would be to start with the book Qawaa’id fi uloom al
hadith. Second is the book Ar Raf wat takmeel. However, you
would only get the true benefit of these books if you study them under
a competent Ustadh.
And Allah knows best
Wassalamu Alaikum
Ml. Ismail Moosa,
Student Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In'aamiyyah
Below we have attached a copy of a book ‘Introduction to hadith’
which has been compiled by our honourable Ustadh, Hadhrat Mufti
Ebrahim Desai Saheb (d.b). We pray that you would derive maximum
benefit from this work.
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