The Ruling on One Who Rejects a Report from a Single Narrator

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, a questioner says: You mentioned in yesterday's lesson that reports from a single narrator (ahad) convey knowledge and certainty. Does this mean that one who rejects an ahad hadith is a disbeliever? And is this the meaning of the statement of Ishaq ibn Rahawayh and others of the Salaf that one who rejects a report of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is a disbeliever?

Answer:
Yes, one who rejects a report of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) while knowing that it is authentic and established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), but he rejects it, is a disbeliever because he is rejecting the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). And one who rejects the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is a disbeliever who did not believe the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). However, if he has a figurative interpretation (ta'wil), or if he is following (taqlid) those who say that it does not convey certainty, and he is following them, then the declaration of disbelief (takfir) is averted from him by the following or by the interpretation. The declaration of disbelief is averted from him, but he is judged to be misguided. This is misguidance because it is not permissible to follow in falsehood or to follow the false statement.
But the declaration of disbelief is averted from him due to a doubtful matter (shubhah), the doubt of interpretation or the doubt of following. As for one who intentionally rejects the statement of the Messenger while knowing that it is authentic from the Messenger and established, there is no doubt in his disbelief. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you