Distinguishing between ahad reports and mutawatir reports in establishing creed is an innovation of the later generations.

The Shaykh : And here, finally, and perhaps we will suffice with this, the importance of the preceding introduction becomes apparent to you: it is not sufficient for us to rely solely on our own understanding of the Book and the Sunnah; rather, we must add to that the methodology of the righteous Salaf. Now, we know that the righteous Salaf were dispersed in the lands during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and even more so after him. Indeed, we know that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to send messengers from his side to the Arab tribes, calling them to worship Allah alone, having no partner, to prayer, to fasting, and to Islam. You must remember with me the sending of the messenger Mu'adh to Yemen, the sending of Ali to Yemen, the sending of Abu Musa al-Ash'ari to Yemen, and the sending of Dhiyyah al-Kilabi to Heraclius, the leader of the Romans and the great one of the Romans. There were many, many such missions, including when the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) sent Uthman ibn Abi al-As al-Thaqafi to Banu Thaqif, his tribe. He said to him, may the prayers and peace be upon him: When he sent him alone, he said to him: This is the Sunnah of the Messenger, may the prayers and peace be upon him, and this is the application of the righteous Salaf. So when Mu'adh went to Yemen and the others went likewise, well, when these people used to say, "The Messenger of Allah said such and such," or "The Messenger of Allah ordered such and such," was their report, according to this innovated terminology, an ahad report or a mutawatir report?

Those present : An ahad report.

The Shaykh : An ahad report.