If one of the scholars of al-jarh wa al-ta'dil (the critique and vindication of narrators) said that a certain person, such as "Ma'dan," was among the abdal, and we search for him but find no biographical entry for him

The questioner : When the biographer mentions that a certain person was among the abdal, and you search for him but find no biographical entry, but the one who said that so-and-so was among the abdal is a well-known figure in al-jarh wa al-ta'dil (the critique and vindication of narrators), a man... knowledgeable in the science of hadith; is his statement used as a reference in authenticating or weakening?

The Shaykh : His statement is used as a reference; who do you mean?

The questioner : For example, Ibn al-Mubarak's statement about a man named Ma'dan, where he said: "This is one of the abdal," but we searched for a biographical entry for him and found none, and it appeared in a hadith regarding the interpretation of Sufyan al-Thawri's statement at that he is, meaning, in the sky, but we did not find a biographical entry for him; we found Ibn al-Mubarak's statement about him that he is one of the abdal, and Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) used it as evidence, and Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) used it as evidence in this chapter; is it used as a reference that... it is very weak, meaning, or...?

The Shaykh : Meaning, can it be said that this hadith of Ma'dan is authentic?

The questioner : No, meaning, it is strengthened by its corroborating narrations, or is it used as a reference, or is it considered, is it taken into account.

The Shaykh : Meaning, at the very least, it is said from the hadith perspective: that he is unknown, but he is among the righteous; it is used as a reference, yes, without a doubt.