What is the validity of the doubt that asks how we can trust hadiths narrated by meaning, given that the Companions may make mistakes in transmitting them?
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The questioner : My teacher, it is said in Turkey that some professors ask how we can rely on the understanding of the Companions. They mean, I suppose, narration by meaning. They say it is like this, do they mean that?
The Shaykh : This is a question. In truth, do not hold it against me if I say that those who ask such a question have not realized the status of the Companions. We mention this on another occasion, which is very important, and I think you also need to hear that occasion, because the answer to that and to this is one. We, and by "we" I mean those of us who belong to the Sunnah and act according to the Book and the Sunnah, and not only that, but act according to the Book and the Sunnah upon the methodology of the righteous predecessors. It must have reached you, at least some of the spray of, this call.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, today we live, as you know, in the midst of many calls, all of which claim Islam and working for Islam, just as it was in the old days when the known Islamic sects, such as the Mu'tazilah, the Khawarij, the Murji'ah, and others, existed. They were, as the poet said, "And every one claims a connection to Layla, *** But Layla does not approve of that for them." You know this verse, surely. So history, as they say, repeats itself. Just as the sects back then each claimed to be upon the truth and the right, so too the Islamic parties and groups existing today on the Islamic land, each of them makes this claim. Even in the sects whose remnants still exist today, like the Khawarij, among whom are the Ibadis. Do you know that they are from the Khawarij?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And among them are the Shi'ah, and in creed, and as you say in the divine attributes, they are Mu'tazilah.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, and in expression, the scholars of hadith are those who engage in figurative interpretation, or even denial of the divine attributes.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, even these sects existing today say about themselves, "We are upon the Book and the Sunnah."
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : This is a question. In truth, do not hold it against me if I say that those who ask such a question have not realized the status of the Companions. We mention this on another occasion, which is very important, and I think you also need to hear that occasion, because the answer to that and to this is one. We, and by "we" I mean those of us who belong to the Sunnah and act according to the Book and the Sunnah, and not only that, but act according to the Book and the Sunnah upon the methodology of the righteous predecessors. It must have reached you, at least some of the spray of, this call.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, today we live, as you know, in the midst of many calls, all of which claim Islam and working for Islam, just as it was in the old days when the known Islamic sects, such as the Mu'tazilah, the Khawarij, the Murji'ah, and others, existed. They were, as the poet said, "And every one claims a connection to Layla, *** But Layla does not approve of that for them." You know this verse, surely. So history, as they say, repeats itself. Just as the sects back then each claimed to be upon the truth and the right, so too the Islamic parties and groups existing today on the Islamic land, each of them makes this claim. Even in the sects whose remnants still exist today, like the Khawarij, among whom are the Ibadis. Do you know that they are from the Khawarij?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And among them are the Shi'ah, and in creed, and as you say in the divine attributes, they are Mu'tazilah.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, and in expression, the scholars of hadith are those who engage in figurative interpretation, or even denial of the divine attributes.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, even these sects existing today say about themselves, "We are upon the Book and the Sunnah."
The questioner: Yes.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.