Is it permissible to narrate a weak hadith in a definitive form, and to mention it without clarifying its weakness?
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The questioner : A weak hadith is permissible to narrate in a definitive form, and likewise to mention it without clarifying its weakness, or to associate its weakness with it.
The Shaykh : No, it is not permissible. That is why we said that it is necessary to clarify its weakness, as stated in the condition regarding this, so that the one who acts upon it knows that it is weak.
One of the drawbacks of this rule is that when we see some people of virtue acting upon and performing certain acts of worship for which there is only a weak hadith, and when we object to them, what do they say? They say, "If the hadith is weak, one may act upon a weak hadith in the virtues of deeds." This gives us a warning that because he acts upon this hadith, he does not know whether it is authentic or weak. Therefore, he rushes to say that if it is as you say, then it is permissible to act upon a weak hadith in the virtues of deeds.
Consequently, this was the cause of the spread of this rule without clarifying it by one of two means: the correct path we mentioned earlier, which is derived from the words of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, and the other path is the conditions mentioned by al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani and others.
When these two restrictions were ignored, the practice of acting upon weak hadiths in general became widespread among people, even among scholars. This became a cause for legislating matters that are religious innovations (bid'ah), for which it is not permissible to worship or draw near to Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He).
Therefore, if we set aside the issue of acting upon weak hadiths in the virtues of deeds, it is not permissible for a Muslim to narrate a hadith while knowing its weakness unless he clarifies its weakness. This is because there is doubt that doing so is advice to the Muslim community (ummah), especially if this narrator of the weak hadith is a role model for people, such that when some scholars tell them, "This is a weak hadith," they say to you, "How can you say that? I heard this hadith from so-and-so Shaykh and so-and-so scholar." This is very common among the general people, as they argue with what the scholars do, saying, "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said..." in the weak hadith. So, in this situation, there is no doubt that they have fallen into the danger of contradicting his saying (peace and blessings be upon him)Riyad as-Salihin 1547 Riyad as-Salihin 1547
Therefore, the scholars of hadith in the past, when they narrated a weak hadith, would present it with its chain of narration (isnad) so that the people of knowledge could identify the hadith from its chain. As for the reality of the later scholars of hadith, who mention the hadith with the chain omitted, it is necessary in this case to mention a summary of the chain, saying, "This is a hadith whose chain is weak, or good, or authentic," according to the ruling it deserves. For this reason, it is not permissible to mention a weak hadith without clarifying its weakness, especially when some people act upon it.
The Shaykh : No, it is not permissible. That is why we said that it is necessary to clarify its weakness, as stated in the condition regarding this, so that the one who acts upon it knows that it is weak.
One of the drawbacks of this rule is that when we see some people of virtue acting upon and performing certain acts of worship for which there is only a weak hadith, and when we object to them, what do they say? They say, "If the hadith is weak, one may act upon a weak hadith in the virtues of deeds." This gives us a warning that because he acts upon this hadith, he does not know whether it is authentic or weak. Therefore, he rushes to say that if it is as you say, then it is permissible to act upon a weak hadith in the virtues of deeds.
Consequently, this was the cause of the spread of this rule without clarifying it by one of two means: the correct path we mentioned earlier, which is derived from the words of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, and the other path is the conditions mentioned by al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani and others.
When these two restrictions were ignored, the practice of acting upon weak hadiths in general became widespread among people, even among scholars. This became a cause for legislating matters that are religious innovations (bid'ah), for which it is not permissible to worship or draw near to Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He).
Therefore, if we set aside the issue of acting upon weak hadiths in the virtues of deeds, it is not permissible for a Muslim to narrate a hadith while knowing its weakness unless he clarifies its weakness. This is because there is doubt that doing so is advice to the Muslim community (ummah), especially if this narrator of the weak hadith is a role model for people, such that when some scholars tell them, "This is a weak hadith," they say to you, "How can you say that? I heard this hadith from so-and-so Shaykh and so-and-so scholar." This is very common among the general people, as they argue with what the scholars do, saying, "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said..." in the weak hadith. So, in this situation, there is no doubt that they have fallen into the danger of contradicting his saying (peace and blessings be upon him)
It is enough for a man to prove himself a liar when he goes on narrating whatever he hears.
كفى المرء كذبا أن يحدث بكل ما سمعIt is enough for a man to prove himself a liar when he goes on narrating whatever he hears.
كفى المرء كذبا أن يحدث بكل ما سمعTherefore, the scholars of hadith in the past, when they narrated a weak hadith, would present it with its chain of narration (isnad) so that the people of knowledge could identify the hadith from its chain. As for the reality of the later scholars of hadith, who mention the hadith with the chain omitted, it is necessary in this case to mention a summary of the chain, saying, "This is a hadith whose chain is weak, or good, or authentic," according to the ruling it deserves. For this reason, it is not permissible to mention a weak hadith without clarifying its weakness, especially when some people act upon it.