What does al-Tirmidhi mean by his statement: "Hasan Sahih"?

The Shaykh: For example, do you know—assuming a little water is available—there is a great deal of disagreement among scholars regarding the interpretation of the statement of Imam al-Tirmidhi in his Sunan when he combines the terms "Hasan" and "Sahih" in a hadith. To this day, I do not have an opinion on what Imam al-Tirmidhi means when he says of a hadith: "This is a Hasan Sahih hadith." There are many opinions, yes. In his book *Al-'Ilal al-Kabir wa al-Saghir* (The Major and Minor Defects), specifically the *Saghir* which he appended to the end of his Sunan, he explained some of the technical terms, which are beneficial. For instance, when he says of a hadith: "This is a Hasan hadith," he clarified in *Al-'Ilal* that the meaning of his statement "Hasan hadith" is that it is equal in value to a Sahih hadith based on the implication of his words, but he did not explicitly state that when he says of a hadith: "Hasan hadith," it means its chain of narration is weak. This is similar to how a Hafiz describes a narrator among the narrators as "Maqbul" (acceptable), meaning his hadith is not acceptable except when supported by a corroborating chain (mutaba'ah). If it is corroborated, then "Maqbul" is determined. Similarly, when al-Tirmidhi says of a hadith: "Hasan hadith," he means: Hasan in the aggregate of its various routes. Otherwise, the specific route he cited has a weak chain of narration. This is good; otherwise, scholars would also choose to say "Hasan hadith"—especially since he sometimes says of a hadith: "Hasan Gharib" (Hasan and Strange). This confuses some people between the two expressions: "Hasan" as an expression and "Hasan Gharib" as an expression. As we mentioned earlier, the first expression, "Hasan hadith," means its chain of narration is weak, but its text is Hasan due to its other routes or corroborating narrations. However, if he says: "Hasan Gharib hadith," it means its chain of narration is Hasan, because at that point, strangeness (gharabah) cannot coexist with other routes, as "Gharib" means it has no other route. So how can it be Hasan at that time? That is, Hasan in itself. These two expressions of Imam al-Tirmidhi (may Allah have mercy on him) are almost unique to him in this terminology in his book. Although the word "Gharib" is known in general terminology to mean uniqueness (tafarrud), and that a hadith which a narrator narrated uniquely, or where a scholar says of a specific chain: "This is a Gharib chain," means the narrator narrated it uniquely. It does not necessarily mean the chain is weak, but rather that it is unique. Therefore, one should look at all the narrators, especially the one who narrated it uniquely. If he is trustworthy (thiqah), it is a Sahih Gharib hadith. If he is weak, then if he says at that time: "Its chain is Gharib," it is equivalent to saying: "Its chain is weak." That is how it is.

The questioner: And when he says "Hasan Sahih"?

The Shaykh: This is what we referred to, may Allah bless you, and we said: We do not know to this day what he means by this word, because every aspect...!

The questioner: Nothing is more probable, Shaykh?

The Shaykh: Yes.

The questioner: Nothing is more probable.

The Shaykh: Nothing is more probable.

The questioner : ... .

The Shaykh: Yes.

The questioner : Peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings.

The Shaykh: And upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. In the name of Allah.