The Shaykh’s clarification of the steps a student of knowledge must follow when investigating the authenticity of a specific word in a hadith, such as the word: “Ya Ali.”

The Shaykh : However, to be certain of the correctness of mentioning this word in this authentic hadith, the matter requires a precise hadith study. It necessitates tracing all these chains and examining the biographies of their narrators. Ibn Asakir was in the sixth century, so his chain is long, and very long indeed. Therefore, the effort a researcher should devote to studying the biographies of a single chain may take at least one day to study one chain. What can you say if we wanted to study all these chains? It would take a great deal of time, and a great deal indeed. Then, after that, a process of filtering must be conducted, which is the application of one of two rules: In the science of hadith terminology, it is well known that they say, “The addition of a trustworthy narrator is accepted,” and they say, “The anomalous hadith is rejected and returned.” There is no room now to detail the difference between the two rules, and we have done so in some of our sessions with some of our brothers on this trip here. But I say that to distinguish whether this addition is of the type of an accepted addition by a trustworthy narrator, or whether it is an anomalous addition, requires a very extensive and massive process. Then, there is hardly any benefit to be gained from it. So it suffices for us to say: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said to Ali – because this is the correct version –: to the end of it. As for the rest of the hadiths, there is no doubt in their weakness. As for this hadith, the ruling is suspended regarding the correctness of this addition, or its anomaly, or its weakness.