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 : Based on one's own independent legal reasoning, because we are not in a position now to establish the science of al-jarh wa al-ta'dil (the critique and vindication of narrators) and start from where they started. Our duty now is to see 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 independent legal reasoning for people like us.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : To 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 someone precede you to this? You said no. That is not reasonable, otherwise you would be asked: Where did you get this weakening from? And this is a more difficult question than the first.
The questioner : For the sake of 'Afir ibn Ma'dan.
The Shaykh : What is your knowledge that he is weak?
The questioner : Because the imams said he is weak.
The Shaykh : Look now.
Another questioner: Repeat it.
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 : Fine, may Allah forgive what has passed.
The questioner : Praise be to Allah.
The Shaykh : Repeat it.
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : Your saying "weak," is that from you or did someone precede you to it?
The questioner : I was preceded, perhaps.
The Shaykh : Fine, who said it?
Another questioner: Go back, our Shaykh.
The Shaykh : No problem.
Another questioner: Go back, our Shaykh... You have been sent back.
The questioner : Excuse me.
The Shaykh : Returning to the truth is a virtue, not a disgrace, my brother. It is a virtue. May Allah guide you. It attributes you to excellence.
The questioner : Praise be to Allah.
The Shaykh : Yes, that is it. Who said it is weak? For example.
The questioner : ... Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar, al-Dhahabi, and others.
The Shaykh : No, these are later scholars.
The questioner : Later scholars, yes.
The Shaykh : We need to see what the early scholars said.
The questioner : I do not remember now.
The Shaykh : You do not remember? Fine, is there no disagreement between them?
The questioner : It appears there is no disagreement.
The Shaykh : No, this situation does not work. It does not work like this.
The questioner : Abu Nu'aym says: "It is a strange hadith from 'Ata. I do not know a narrator from him other than 'Afir ibn Ma'dan."
The Shaykh : What does this have to do with our discussion?
The questioner : Meaning that Abu Nu'aym called it strange.
The Shaykh : You people, you are done listening? You have not eaten.
Another questioner: We ate in the evening...
The Shaykh : We have a neighbor here who has not eaten, and it seems he ate something more delicious than this.
The questioner : Yes, by Allah, my Shaykh. May Allah reward you with good.
Another questioner: Peace be upon you.
Another questioner: May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Where?
The questioner : Peace. Shaykh, I have an appointment... I will be late for five-thirty, but...
The Shaykh : Good, if Allah wills.
The questioner : Let us go. Peace be upon you.
Another questioner: In the safety of Allah.
Another questioner: And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah.
The questioner : And peace be upon you.
The questioner : ... Is there a question, our Shaykh?
The Shaykh : I ask permission from the owner of the research.
The questioner : O Abu...
Another questioner: But let him, let him, let him, so that the questions do not get mixed up.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : If they disagreed, then there remains room for research and independent legal reasoning for people like us.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : To 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 someone precede you to this? You said no. That is not reasonable, otherwise you would be asked: Where did you get this weakening from? And this is a more difficult question than the first.
The questioner : For the sake of 'Afir ibn Ma'dan.
The Shaykh : What is your knowledge that he is weak?
The questioner : Because the imams said he is weak.
The Shaykh : Look now.
Another questioner: Repeat it.
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 : Fine, may Allah forgive what has passed.
The questioner : Praise be to Allah.
The Shaykh : Repeat it.
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : Your saying "weak," is that from you or did someone precede you to it?
The questioner : I was preceded, perhaps.
The Shaykh : Fine, who said it?
Another questioner: Go back, our Shaykh.
The Shaykh : No problem.
Another questioner: Go back, our Shaykh... You have been sent back.
The questioner : Excuse me.
The Shaykh : Returning to the truth is a virtue, not a disgrace, my brother. It is a virtue. May Allah guide you. It attributes you to excellence.
The questioner : Praise be to Allah.
The Shaykh : Yes, that is it. Who said it is weak? For example.
The questioner : ... Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar, al-Dhahabi, and others.
The Shaykh : No, these are later scholars.
The questioner : Later scholars, yes.
The Shaykh : We need to see what the early scholars said.
The questioner : I do not remember now.
The Shaykh : You do not remember? Fine, is there no disagreement between them?
The questioner : It appears there is no disagreement.
The Shaykh : No, this situation does not work. It does not work like this.
The questioner : Abu Nu'aym says: "It is a strange hadith from 'Ata. I do not know a narrator from him other than 'Afir ibn Ma'dan."
The Shaykh : What does this have to do with our discussion?
The questioner : Meaning that Abu Nu'aym called it strange.
The Shaykh : You people, you are done listening? You have not eaten.
Another questioner: We ate in the evening...
The Shaykh : We have a neighbor here who has not eaten, and it seems he ate something more delicious than this.
The questioner : Yes, by Allah, my Shaykh. May Allah reward you with good.
Another questioner: Peace be upon you.
Another questioner: May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Where?
The questioner : Peace. Shaykh, I have an appointment... I will be late for five-thirty, but...
The Shaykh : Good, if Allah wills.
The questioner : Let us go. Peace be upon you.
Another questioner: In the safety of Allah.
Another questioner: And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah.
The questioner : And peace be upon you.
The questioner : ... Is there a question, our Shaykh?
The Shaykh : I ask permission from the owner of the research.
The questioner : O Abu...
Another questioner: But let him, let him, let him, so that the questions do not get mixed up.