I read in one of the books that an unknown narrator (mujhul al-'ayn) cannot be strengthened if he narrates a weak hadith whose weakness is slight. How accurate is this statement?

The questioner: Your Eminence, I have read in one of the books where someone claims that an unknown narrator (mujhul al-'ayn)...

The Shaykh: ...someone claims...

The questioner: ...that an unknown narrator (mujhul al-'ayn) cannot be strengthened if he narrates a weak hadith with slight weakness. He cites a statement you made to him when you were teaching at the Islamic University. How accurate is this claim?

The Shaykh: This varies, my brother, depending on the rank of the unknown narrator, whether he is, for example, a Tabi'i (successor) or a later generation scholar. The matter differs from one rank to another. I believe it is not hidden from all those present here the difference between those who were in the first century and those who were in the third century and after, from both aspects related to narration. As you all know, it is required that the narrator be upright (adl) and precise (dhabt). If we look at each of these two qualities, we find that one is compelled to distinguish between those early ones and these later ones. This is from two aspects: The first aspect is that uprightness (adl) was predominant among the early Salaf. Therefore, we hardly find in the biographies of this rank anyone accused of lacking in religion, righteousness, or piety. This is unlike those who came after them; the later the centuries, the more suspicions spread. I think this statement is clear, meaning...

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh: Now, this is the first quality, which relates to uprightness (adl).
The student: Peace be upon you.

The Shaykh: And upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. May Allah keep you in good. Do you want me to explain it to you? Just summarize it, meaning complete it. May Allah guide you.
The student: I saw that no one was ready.

The Shaykh: What do you mean ready? You counted for them. You extended your hand and look what...
The student : May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : Welcome.
The student : May you be well.

The Shaykh: May Allah reward you. Welcome, Abu Ahmad.

The Shaykh: You nearly, just now, O Abdullah, established a bad precedent. You nearly did so, praise be to Allah, but you did not. As for the other quality, which is also clear and evident... First: Their concern for narration and the soundness of their memory regarding the loss or forgetting of narrations. Therefore, the researcher's mind is reassured by such an unknown narrator in a way it is not reassured by one from that rank or similar. Therefore, we find some of those engaged in this science, who in my opinion have a firm foundation in it, who strengthen the hadith of this unknown narrator and grade it as good (hasan) at least on its own merit. I mean by this the contemporary scholars who, if Allah wills, have passed to the mercy and forgiveness of Allah, namely...The Shaykh: Ahmad Shakir. He grades the hadith of the unknown Tabi'i (successor) as good (hasan). We are content with citing him as evidence. If the unknown narrator is from a later rank, we are not reassured by him as we are reassured by the one before him. And this is the answer to what you asked about.