The Ruling on the Addition of a Trustworthy Narrator to a Trustworthy Narrator

The Shaykh : We ask Allah for help, O Abu 'Ala.

The questioner : We ask Allah for well-being.

The Shaykh : How so? This is the topic I mentioned.

The questioner : Regarding the addition in narration, meaning, is it not said that this is a trustworthy narrator who contradicted the trustworthy ones, so the addition is not accepted?

The Shaykh : This is a relief for him, may Allah bless you. It is said when a trustworthy narrator adds to a trustworthy narrator. Yes. When a trustworthy narrator adds to a trustworthy narrator, it is said here that the addition of a trustworthy narrator to a trustworthy narrator is accepted. But when a trustworthy narrator adds to a trustworthy narrator, it is said to be anomalous. Yes, why? Because when one person adds to three who contradict him, and there are three trustworthy narrators, one trustworthy narrator, we are now forced to either err with this one or with these. If we err with this trustworthy one, how do you err with him? These three will object to us and say, if you did not err with this one, it means you are erring with us. Yes, meaning we are trustworthy and memorizers, and we did not memorize this addition, but he did. Is one person closer to error than three? Therefore, the addition of a trustworthy narrator is accepted between two trustworthy narrators. And in a more detailed distinction, a trustworthy narrator adds to a trustworthy narrator if they are in the same degree, is that not so? In terms of being certified as trustworthy, a trustworthy narrator in the same degree of trustworthiness, yes, meaning they are equal. But if one is more memorizing than the other, we rely on the narration of the more memorizing one, whether it is an addition or an omission.