Regarding the athar (reports) from the Companions and the Tabi'un.

The questioner : Regarding the athar (reports) from the Companions or the Tabi'un; is it obligatory to verify these narrations, or do we narrate them even if we do not know their authenticity?

The Shaykh : If a hadith scholar intends to establish a legal ruling based on an athar (report) attributed to one of the Companions, he must treat that athar (report) in the same way he treats a hadith traced to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). That is, he must verify the authenticity of the athar (report) in terms of its chain of narration. As I told some of you a day or two ago: I saw him enter the place of relief, and I think this is a matter... among the people. As this brother mentioned to me when he saw me enter the place of relief with my head uncovered, when I came out I said to him: Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) did not enter the place of relief with his head uncovered, and he used to say: "I am shy of my Lord to enter the place of relief with my head uncovered." So, this is a sound chain of narration to Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him). After the Messenger, we have no role model like the role model of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him). If we want to show people that it is among the etiquettes of Islam that a Muslim does not enter the place of relief with his head uncovered, we tell him: Abu Bakr said such and such. However, if this athar (report) from Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) is not established, it is not permissible for us to narrate it, or to legislate an Islamic etiquette for people based on an athar (report) narrated from Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) or any other Companion whose chain of narration is not established.