The Shaykh's explanation of the issue of following precedent in matters of al-jarh wa al-ta'dil (the critique and vindication of narrators).
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The Shaykh : ... because we cannot now establish the science of al-jarh wa al-ta'dil (the critique and vindication of narrators) and start from where they started. We must now look at what the imams of al-jarh wa al-ta'dil (the critique and vindication of narrators) said. If they agreed to authenticate a narrator, we have no choice but to authenticate him. If they agreed to weaken a narrator, we have no choice but to weaken him. If they agreed to rule that a report is fabricated or that the narrator is a liar, likewise, we have no choice.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : If they disagreed, then there remains room for research and ijtihad (independent legal reasoning) for people like us.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : One should take from these differing opinions what is appropriate for the science of al-jarh wa al-ta'dil (the critique and vindication of narrators). So when you answered my question: "Did anyone precede you to this?" and you said, "No," that is not reasonable. Otherwise, you will be asked—and this is a more difficult question than the first—: "Where did you get this weakening from, then?"
The questioner : For the sake of 'Ufayr ibn Ma'dan.
The Shaykh : Yes, what told you that he is weak?
The questioner : Because the imams said about him: weak.
The Shaykh : Look now!
Abu Malik: He went back!
The questioner : Did you precede me in weakening the hadith or in weakening the man?
The Shaykh : What are we talking about now?
The questioner : About the man. I thought it was about the hadith.
The Shaykh : Good; may Allah forgive what has passed.
The questioner : Praise be to Allah.
The Shaykh : Back to the point.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Your saying: "weak"; is this from you, or did someone precede you to it?
The questioner : I was preceded, it seems.
The Shaykh : Okay; who said it?
Abu Malik: Our Shaykh went back.
The Shaykh : No problem.
Abu Malik: You have been sent back twice.
The questioner : Pardon me.
The Shaykh : Returning to the truth is a virtue, not a shame, my brother. It is a virtue. May Allah guide you; it attributes you to excellence.
The questioner : Praise be to Allah.
The Shaykh : Ah, that is it. Yes, who said that he is weak—for example?
The questioner : Most of them, al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar, al-Dhahabi, and others.
The Shaykh : No, those are later scholars.
The questioner : Later scholars, yes.
The Shaykh : We need to look at the early scholars.
The questioner: I do not remember it now.
The Shaykh : You do not remember, okay; is there no disagreement between them?
The questioner : It appears there is no disagreement.
The Shaykh : No, that will not do. It does not work that way.
The questioner : Abu Nu'aym says: "A strange hadith from 'Ata'; I do not know a narrator of it other than 'Ufayr ibn Ma'dan."
The Shaykh : What does this have to do with our research?
The questioner : No, I mean that Abu Nu'aym now called it strange.
The Shaykh : You people, you have prepared for listening, but you have not eaten.
Another questioner : We ate in the evening...
The Shaykh : Our companion here, my neighbor, has not eaten. It seems he has eaten something else that is more delicious to him than this.
The questioner : Yes, by Allah, Shaykh. May Allah reward you with good.
Another questioner: Peace be upon you.
Another questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : And where?
The questioner : Peace. Shaykh, I have an appointment so I do not arrive late for five-thirty, but...
The Shaykh : Good, if Allah wills.
The questioner : Come, peace be upon you.
Abu Malik: In the safety of Allah. May Allah make it easy for you.
Another questioner : And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah.
Abu Malik: And upon you be peace.
Another questioner : Is there a remaining question, my Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Ask permission from the owner of the research.
The questioner : O Abu...
Abu Malik: But let him, let him, so that the questions do not get mixed up with each other.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : If they disagreed, then there remains room for research and ijtihad (independent legal reasoning) for people like us.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : One should take from these differing opinions what is appropriate for the science of al-jarh wa al-ta'dil (the critique and vindication of narrators). So when you answered my question: "Did anyone precede you to this?" and you said, "No," that is not reasonable. Otherwise, you will be asked—and this is a more difficult question than the first—: "Where did you get this weakening from, then?"
The questioner : For the sake of 'Ufayr ibn Ma'dan.
The Shaykh : Yes, what told you that he is weak?
The questioner : Because the imams said about him: weak.
The Shaykh : Look now!
Abu Malik: He went back!
The questioner : Did you precede me in weakening the hadith or in weakening the man?
The Shaykh : What are we talking about now?
The questioner : About the man. I thought it was about the hadith.
The Shaykh : Good; may Allah forgive what has passed.
The questioner : Praise be to Allah.
The Shaykh : Back to the point.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Your saying: "weak"; is this from you, or did someone precede you to it?
The questioner : I was preceded, it seems.
The Shaykh : Okay; who said it?
Abu Malik: Our Shaykh went back.
The Shaykh : No problem.
Abu Malik: You have been sent back twice.
The questioner : Pardon me.
The Shaykh : Returning to the truth is a virtue, not a shame, my brother. It is a virtue. May Allah guide you; it attributes you to excellence.
The questioner : Praise be to Allah.
The Shaykh : Ah, that is it. Yes, who said that he is weak—for example?
The questioner : Most of them, al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar, al-Dhahabi, and others.
The Shaykh : No, those are later scholars.
The questioner : Later scholars, yes.
The Shaykh : We need to look at the early scholars.
The questioner: I do not remember it now.
The Shaykh : You do not remember, okay; is there no disagreement between them?
The questioner : It appears there is no disagreement.
The Shaykh : No, that will not do. It does not work that way.
The questioner : Abu Nu'aym says: "A strange hadith from 'Ata'; I do not know a narrator of it other than 'Ufayr ibn Ma'dan."
The Shaykh : What does this have to do with our research?
The questioner : No, I mean that Abu Nu'aym now called it strange.
The Shaykh : You people, you have prepared for listening, but you have not eaten.
Another questioner : We ate in the evening...
The Shaykh : Our companion here, my neighbor, has not eaten. It seems he has eaten something else that is more delicious to him than this.
The questioner : Yes, by Allah, Shaykh. May Allah reward you with good.
Another questioner: Peace be upon you.
Another questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : And where?
The questioner : Peace. Shaykh, I have an appointment so I do not arrive late for five-thirty, but...
The Shaykh : Good, if Allah wills.
The questioner : Come, peace be upon you.
Abu Malik: In the safety of Allah. May Allah make it easy for you.
Another questioner : And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah.
Abu Malik: And upon you be peace.
Another questioner : Is there a remaining question, my Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Ask permission from the owner of the research.
The questioner : O Abu...
Abu Malik: But let him, let him, so that the questions do not get mixed up with each other.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.