Is it correct that it is reported from you that you grade a hadith as hasan (good) due to the multiplicity of its chains?
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The questioner : The Shaykh, the questions are reported from you that you grade a hadith as hasan (good) due to the multiplicity of its chains.
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : How is that, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : If you have read the terminology of hadith, you have spared me the trouble; otherwise, I will answer you. Or, if you have a doubt, for example, about the rule presented in the science of hadith terminology, we will listen; otherwise, we will answer you.
The questioner : I am asking now.
The Shaykh : Fine. The scholars of hadith say that a weak hadith, whose chain is weak but not severely weak, if this hadith comes from other chains, these chains strengthen one another. This is an intuitive matter.
A person feels reassured by this ruling established by the scholars of hadith, especially if one notes their aforementioned condition, which is that its weakness not be severe.
But this issue is not definitive in the view of all scholars of hadith; rather, this is the famous and practiced view in the science of hadith terminology. I say this because the Hafiz, Imam Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) held that—without explicitly stating it, but his words indicate this—he said: "When a hadith comes from multiple chains and the narrators are from different lands such that it is unlikely they conspired to narrate a hadith and insert it among the people, then the hadith is strengthened by the multiplicity of its chains" without regard to the condition mentioned in the science of hadith terminology, which is that its weakness not be severe. This is one thing.
In contrast to this, we find some hadiths that were cited as examples because they belong to the category of weak hadiths with many chains. Ibn al-Salah cited as an example in his Introduction the hadith and he (may Allah have mercy on him) acknowledged that this hadith has many chains, but the hadith does not become strong because of them.
From this, he stated that it is a condition for a hadith that the weakness of its chains not be severe.
But upon investigation, we found that this hadith has many chains, some of which strengthen one another because the weakness is not severe, and another whose chain is strong on its own. Thus, the hadith has exited the circle of being cited as an example of a weak hadith with many chains. Therefore, the matter remains—I mean from this and the aforementioned statement—that judging a weak hadith as hasan (good), sahih (authentic), or weak is a relative issue that varies according to the scholars' knowledge, understanding, research, breadth of comprehension, and familiarity with the chains of the hadith.
This is the answer to what you asked.
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : How is that, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : If you have read the terminology of hadith, you have spared me the trouble; otherwise, I will answer you. Or, if you have a doubt, for example, about the rule presented in the science of hadith terminology, we will listen; otherwise, we will answer you.
The questioner : I am asking now.
The Shaykh : Fine. The scholars of hadith say that a weak hadith, whose chain is weak but not severely weak, if this hadith comes from other chains, these chains strengthen one another. This is an intuitive matter.
A person feels reassured by this ruling established by the scholars of hadith, especially if one notes their aforementioned condition, which is that its weakness not be severe.
But this issue is not definitive in the view of all scholars of hadith; rather, this is the famous and practiced view in the science of hadith terminology. I say this because the Hafiz, Imam Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) held that—without explicitly stating it, but his words indicate this—he said: "When a hadith comes from multiple chains and the narrators are from different lands such that it is unlikely they conspired to narrate a hadith and insert it among the people, then the hadith is strengthened by the multiplicity of its chains" without regard to the condition mentioned in the science of hadith terminology, which is that its weakness not be severe. This is one thing.
In contrast to this, we find some hadiths that were cited as examples because they belong to the category of weak hadiths with many chains. Ibn al-Salah cited as an example in his Introduction the hadith
The ears are part of the head
الأذنان من الرأسFrom this, he stated that it is a condition for a hadith that the weakness of its chains not be severe.
But upon investigation, we found that this hadith has many chains, some of which strengthen one another because the weakness is not severe, and another whose chain is strong on its own. Thus, the hadith has exited the circle of being cited as an example of a weak hadith with many chains. Therefore, the matter remains—I mean from this and the aforementioned statement—that judging a weak hadith as hasan (good), sahih (authentic), or weak is a relative issue that varies according to the scholars' knowledge, understanding, research, breadth of comprehension, and familiarity with the chains of the hadith.
This is the answer to what you asked.