Terminology: The difference between the expression of caution and the expression of certainty.

The questioner : Well, Shaykh, regarding the issue of the expression of certainty and the expression of caution, and the words of the scholars on the difference between them, and also the scholars' distinction between a hadith being "sound" or "good" and a chain being "sound" or "good." When a student of knowledge reads the works of the predecessors, he finds that they do not pay attention to this distinction. He even finds that among the imams who mention this in books of terminology, such as al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar, it may not be observed. So, may Allah preserve you, please tell us when this term became popular, and who do you know among those who are precise in this and adhere to it, so that we attribute the statement to him with a correct attribution? We would say that he narrated it with caution, and his terminology in this is known, because it is possible for him to narrate it with caution while it is acceptable.

The Shaykh : May peace be upon you, and upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. As for when these terms began, my answer is that I am not more knowledgeable about it than the one who asked.The questioner : .

The questioner : May Allah preserve you.

The Shaykh : As for the scholars or hafizs who use this precise scientific expression, al-Imam al-Nawawi and al-Hafiz al-Dhahabi come to mind.

The questioner : What Allah willed.

The Shaykh : And if it were not for what I mentioned regarding al-Hafiz al-'Asqalani, I would have included him with them.

The questioner : May Allah reward you.

The Shaykh : But perhaps that is not a consistent rule. The expectation for someone like him is that he should adhere to this precise scientific expression. However, as I said, regarding the early scholars, it is difficult to attribute to them their adherence to such a precise hadith terminology. But what, as they say in modern expression, is the question that arises? What is behind that!