Is it permissible to cite 'Atiyyah al-'Awwafi, who is known for tadlis, in tafsir and other works, and did he take from al-Kalbi other than in tafsir?

The questioner : 'Atiyyah al-'Awwafi, and his tadlis is known regarding Muhammad ibn al-Sa'ib al-Kalbi, from Abu Sa'id in tafsir. So, is it permissible to cite him in tafsir and in other matters when he says "from Abu Sa'id"?

The Shaykh : No, there is no difference, whether in hadith or in tafsir.

The questioner : He took from al-Kalbi, the hafiz, other than in tafsir.

The Shaykh : We do not know. We know that he used to practice tadlis, saying "from Abu Sa'id," so the listener understands that he means al-Khudri, whereas he means al-Kalbi.

The questioner : Our Shaykh, sometimes we also find "from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri."

The Shaykh : I have also answered this in *Silsilat al-Da'if* when I refuted al-Kawthari's authentication of the hadith . Al-Kawthari responded that what 'Atiyyah al-'Awwafi is accused of is that he used to practice tadlis, saying "from Abu Sa'id" while meaning al-Kalbi, who is accused of lying. He says it is he, but here he said "from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri" and attributed it to him. I answered him that, first, we have no knowledge that 'Atiyyah al-'Awwafi himself said this attribution. We have no knowledge of that; rather, the same suggestion that he used to make through his tadlis using only the kunya can be understood by one who looks at his "an'anah" (indirect narration). When he says "from Abu Sa'id," the listener hears that he means Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, so he says it is from him, clarifying that it is al-Khudri. Thus, the deception through tadlis remains in both cases, whether the narration is from 'Atiyyah from Abu Sa'id without attribution, or from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri with attribution.

The questioner : The summary is that it is not permissible to cite it.

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : From Abu Sa'id or from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri.

The Shaykh : There is no difference.

The questioner : May Allah reward you.