The Ahadith of the Ahad (singular reports) outside the two Sahihs that are not supported by corroborating evidence: What is the stronger position regarding what they convey?
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The questioner : A questioner: A question regarding the Ahadith of the Ahad (singular reports) and what circulates among students of knowledge in this matter. Some say that the Ahadith of the Ahad (singular reports) outside the two Sahihs, when not supported by corroborating evidence, convey...
The Shaykh : No, no, what is it?
The questioner : ...when not supported by corroborating evidence, they say that these convey certain knowledge, while others say they convey preponderant probability. So what is the position that you consider stronger in this chapter?The Shaykh : There is no doubt that the Ahadith of the Ahad (singular reports), regardless of corroborating evidence, convey preponderant probability. This is what a person should not doubt. We know this through experience, because when we say that a hadith has an authentic chain of narration, it may become clear to us personally that we were mistaken. I believe that this applies to every scholar, whether from the early or later generations, just as it applies to others; that is, the possibility of error. If a trustworthy narrator narrates a hadith, it does not necessarily mean the hadith is authentic. However, if one rules, based on the narration of this trustworthy narrator, that the hadith is authentic, he is a human being and may err. The error may lie in his judgment regarding the authenticity of this chain of narration, or the error may be that the trustworthy narrator we relied upon was actually the one who made a mistake in his narration of the hadith. The important thing is that I am truly amazed at some of the distinguished scholars, whether from the early or later generations, when they assert that the Ahadith of the Ahad (singular reports)—meaning the authentic ones from a trustworthy narrator—convey certainty. This is a very clear error. However, if corroborating evidence surrounds it, then these pieces of evidence are examined, and each examination is given its result.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : No, no, what is it?
The questioner : ...when not supported by corroborating evidence, they say that these convey certain knowledge, while others say they convey preponderant probability. So what is the position that you consider stronger in this chapter?The Shaykh : There is no doubt that the Ahadith of the Ahad (singular reports), regardless of corroborating evidence, convey preponderant probability. This is what a person should not doubt. We know this through experience, because when we say that a hadith has an authentic chain of narration, it may become clear to us personally that we were mistaken. I believe that this applies to every scholar, whether from the early or later generations, just as it applies to others; that is, the possibility of error. If a trustworthy narrator narrates a hadith, it does not necessarily mean the hadith is authentic. However, if one rules, based on the narration of this trustworthy narrator, that the hadith is authentic, he is a human being and may err. The error may lie in his judgment regarding the authenticity of this chain of narration, or the error may be that the trustworthy narrator we relied upon was actually the one who made a mistake in his narration of the hadith. The important thing is that I am truly amazed at some of the distinguished scholars, whether from the early or later generations, when they assert that the Ahadith of the Ahad (singular reports)—meaning the authentic ones from a trustworthy narrator—convey certainty. This is a very clear error. However, if corroborating evidence surrounds it, then these pieces of evidence are examined, and each examination is given its result.
The questioner: Yes.
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