The Legal Standing of Ahad Hadith in Matters of Creed
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The third question of Fatwa No. ( 5082 ):
Q3: Some people hold that hadiths narrated through ahad chains are not proof in matters of creed; because they only convey probability, and creed is not built upon probability. They attribute this view to two of the four Imams. What is your comment on this issue?
Vol. 3: Authentic ahadith (reports with a limited chain) can provide certainty if supported by corroborating circumstances; otherwise, they provide preponderance of probability. In both cases, it is obligatory to cite them as evidence in establishing creed and other Islamic legal rulings. There is much evidence for this, mentioned by Abu Muhammad Ali ibn Hazm in the section on the Sunnah in his book [Al-Ihkam fi Usul al-Ahkam], and by Abu Abdullah Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah in his book [Al-Sawa'iq al-Mursalah 'ala al-Jahmiyyah wa al-Mu'tadilah]. Among this evidence is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to send individual people with his letters to the kings and leaders of states, such as Khusraw and Caesar, inviting them in them to Islam, its creed and its laws. Had the argument not been established against them by this, because it was ahad, he
He would not have been content to send his letter with just one person, as that would be a waste; rather, he would have sent a number reaching the level of tawatur so that proof would hold against those people, according to the claim of those who do not cite ahad reports as proof in creed. Also among this evidence is his sending, may Allah's prayers and blessings be upon him, Mu'adh to Yemen as a governor and caller to Islam, its creed and its law. The method of deriving proof from this was mentioned earlier in the discussion of his sending letters with individual people. This is similar to other actions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). If you wish to exhaustively examine and study the evidence, refer to the two aforementioned books. As for attributing the view they claim to two of the four Imams, that is not correct. The words of the four Imams regarding citing ahad reports as proof, and their practice in accordance with them, are witnessed and known. And success is from Allah. May Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q3: Some people hold that hadiths narrated through ahad chains are not proof in matters of creed; because they only convey probability, and creed is not built upon probability. They attribute this view to two of the four Imams. What is your comment on this issue?
Vol. 3: Authentic ahadith (reports with a limited chain) can provide certainty if supported by corroborating circumstances; otherwise, they provide preponderance of probability. In both cases, it is obligatory to cite them as evidence in establishing creed and other Islamic legal rulings. There is much evidence for this, mentioned by Abu Muhammad Ali ibn Hazm in the section on the Sunnah in his book [Al-Ihkam fi Usul al-Ahkam], and by Abu Abdullah Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah in his book [Al-Sawa'iq al-Mursalah 'ala al-Jahmiyyah wa al-Mu'tadilah]. Among this evidence is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to send individual people with his letters to the kings and leaders of states, such as Khusraw and Caesar, inviting them in them to Islam, its creed and its laws. Had the argument not been established against them by this, because it was ahad, he
He would not have been content to send his letter with just one person, as that would be a waste; rather, he would have sent a number reaching the level of tawatur so that proof would hold against those people, according to the claim of those who do not cite ahad reports as proof in creed. Also among this evidence is his sending, may Allah's prayers and blessings be upon him, Mu'adh to Yemen as a governor and caller to Islam, its creed and its law. The method of deriving proof from this was mentioned earlier in the discussion of his sending letters with individual people. This is similar to other actions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). If you wish to exhaustively examine and study the evidence, refer to the two aforementioned books. As for attributing the view they claim to two of the four Imams, that is not correct. The words of the four Imams regarding citing ahad reports as proof, and their practice in accordance with them, are witnessed and known. And success is from Allah. May Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.