CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

A FEW PRINCIPLES OF HADITH

1. In regard to the chains of narration (lsnaad) of the Hadith, there are many categories. Here we discuss only three,

2. Sahih (sound) - This is a Hadith which has the following 4 qualities,

1. Its chain of narrators is mutasil (i.e. all narrators are mentioned in their respective places from the Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم to the compiler of the Hadith book.

2. All its narrators possess the highest category of taqwa and piety.

None of them is a sinner (faasiq) or someone whose life is obscured.

3. The memory of the narrators is very strong and not hindered by old-age or weakness. .

4. The Hadith is not shaaz (i.e. contrary to the Mash'hoor Ahadith, a higher category of Hadith).

Hasan - This type of Hadith has a narrator who does not completely possess the rare qualities mentioned above. In other words, his piety or memory doesn't have this type of superiority.

Zaeef (weak) - This Hadith has a narrator who either doesn't have a strong memory or isn't virtuous.

2. The first two types of Hadith (Sahih and Hasan) are credible in rulings (ahkaam) and excellence (fadhaail). A weak. (Zaeef) Hadith is only reliable in excellence, not in rulings (permissibility or prohibition will not be proven for it. Yes, good deeds or the prominence of an individual can be).

The result of this is that a weak Hadith is not a lie, false or fabricated (contrary to the propaganda of Ghair-Muqauids). The Muhadditheen have kept its rank less than the first two merely for caution.

3. If a weak Hadith becomes a Hasan Hadith for some reason, it also becomes completely credible, with both excellence and rulings able to be proven from it.

4. A weak narration sometimes becomes Hasan in the following situations,

1. If it is reported by two or more chains of narration, even if all are weak. In other words, if a Hadith is reported through a few weak narrations, it becomes Hasan. - Mirqaat, Mauzuaate-Kabeer, Shaami, Introduction to Mishkaat by Shaikh Abdul-Haqq رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ Risaala Usool-e-Hadith by Imam Jurjaani رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ.

2. The practice of true Ulama also causes a weak Hadith to become Hasan. Thus, if the Learned Ulama-e-Deen begin to bring practice on a weak Hadith, it doesn't remain so, but becomes Hasan. It was for is reason that Imam Tirrnidhi رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ once said, A1t this Hadith is Ghareeb or weak (Zaeef), the learned practice It."32.1

This saying of Imam Tirmidhi رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ doesn't mean that this Hadith is weak and unworthy of practice and that the Ulama of Islam have practiced on it out of stupidity or have become astray. No. It means that the Hadith is weak in regards to its narrators, but through the practice of Ulama, it has been strengthened.

3. Through the experience of the Ulama and inspiration (Kashf) of the Friends of Allahعزوجل (Auliya), a weak. Hadith can become strong. Shaikh Muhayuddin Ibn Arabi رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ knew of a Hadith, 'The person who recites the Kalima Tayyiba 70,000 times attains forgiveness." Once, a young map said to him, "I see my deceased mother in J ahannam." At that point, Shaikh Ibn Arabi had already recited the Kaliina Tayyiba 70,000 times, so (in his heart) he passed on the recital of the Kalima Sharif to that young man's mother. The man smiled and said, "I now see my mother in Jannat." Shaikh Ibn Arabi رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ later said, "I understood this Hadith's correctness (Sihat) through the inspiration (Kashf) of this Wali." - Sahihul­Bihaari

Maulwi Qaasim Nanautwi has recorded this incident regarding Hadrat Junaid Baghdadi رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ in his book, Tahzeerun-Naas.

5. The weakness of the chains of narration (Isnad) doesn't necessitate the text of the Hadith to also be weak. Thus, it is possible for a single Hadith to be weak in' one chain, Hasan in a second and Sahih in a third. This is why Imam Tirmidhi رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ once said regarding a single Hadith, "This Hadith is Hasan, Sahih and Ghareeb as we.,,32.2

This saying of the Imam can only mean that this Hadith is reported through a few chains: Hasan in the first, Sahih in the second and Ghareeb in the third.

6. Also, the weakness doesn't negatively affect the Muhaddith or Mujtahid of former times. Therefore, if Imam Bukhari رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ or Imam Tirmidhi رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ attained a Hadith as weak (Zaeef) due to a weak narrator being included in it, it is possible for Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ to have attained that same Hadith while it had a Sahih chain of narrators (i.e. in his time, that weak narrator was not a part of the chain of Hadith). Thus, it wouldn't be easy for a Wahabi to prove that a Hadith was attained by Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ as weak.

As a result, our Sunni Ulama should bear this in mind. When any Wahabi calls a Hadith "weak", stop him, request its reason of weakness and then clarify whether this was before or after Imam Abu Hanifa's رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ, time. Insha-Allah, this will silence them. Imam Abu Hanifa's رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ time is extremely close to the Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم's. At that time, very few Ahadith were weak. Imam Sahib was even a Taba'ee (one who has met at least one Companion of Rasoolullah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم).