Discussion on the science of hadith and chain criticism, and discussion on the integrity and precision of narrators.

The Shaykh : Specifically, the Westerners or those who have Westernized; they do not critique hadiths except by their chains. As for critiquing the text, they do not work in that. I used to say, and I still say: the authentication of men is originally based on the critique of texts; because the authentication of men is built on two pillars: the first is the integrity of the narrator, and this is the only condition in witnesses. If they want to testify to something, they must be upright. The upright ones are every Muslim who is visibly righteous; he is upright. This is a condition for every narrator, but it is not sufficient in him. He must be more than a witness; he must be a memorizer who is precise. So, integrity is known from the conduct of this validated man in his life, but his precision and memorization do not appear except by examining his memorized reports. Therefore, when the scholars of hadith do not judge a narrator as trustworthy, they do not mean that he is only upright. And so they said in the definition of the authentic hadith: "What is narrated by an upright, precise man from his like," and so on.
Now, how is the precision of this person known? By studying his texts. So, the science of hadith and chain criticism is built on critiquing hadiths and reports in terms of their texts, and not as the ignorant say.
This opened for me the door to reminding of this, and since we mentioned that here in "Thiqat Ibn Hibban" in a story I always remember on some occasions, like the occasion of yesterday and the travel of Umm al-Fadl. Here, in the biography of Hisham ibn Kamal, what does he say? A shaykh who narrates from Yazid ibn Harun. I have not seen in his hadith anything that causes concern in the heart, except something that Habib narrated to me with "Nasa." This is his town.

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : Hisham ibn Kamal narrated to us, and so on. Everyone above Hisham ibn Kamal, starting with Yazid ibn Harun, is trustworthy from the men of the two Shaykhs, and likewise those above him. This author, Ibn Hibban, had something in his mind about this narrator; because he narrated the following story:
...
"And my missing one after another is proof that little does not last."
What does he say? When the funeral was carried, he stood in the graveyard and said: Peace be upon you, O people of affliction. Your wealth has been divided, your houses have been vacated, and your women have been married. So this is news we do not have; what is the news you have? Then a caller called out from the grave: And upon you be peace. We did not eat what we profited from, and what we presented we found, and what we left behind we did not lose. Wonderful and beautiful words, but it appears to be fabricated.

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : It appears to be composed speech; and so this Hafiz said: I have not seen in his hadith anything that causes concern in the heart, except something that so-and-so narrated to me, and so on. He is critiquing the text, not the chain!!