If the date of the death of the narrator, the student, is before the year in which his shaykh became confused, and the scholars have not stated that the date of his death is earlier than his confusion, nor

The questioner: Shaykh, regarding the confused narrators, it may be that through tracking, several things have become apparent to me by which the sound narration, which is from the time of soundness, and that which is from the time of the ailment, are known. For example, an imam might state, for instance, that he was prevented from narrating. Here is a situation I want to ask about: what if the date of the narrator, meaning the student, is such that he died before the year in which his shaykh became confused? We researched his history and learned that he died before the year in which his shaykh became confused.

The Shaykh: And yet he narrated from him.

The questioner: And yet he is narrating from him.

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner: But by his date of death, he died while his shaykh was still sound, and then his shaykh became confused after his death. The scholars did not state that this person, whose date of death we know is earlier than the confusion, did not state that his narration was during the time of soundness. Is it possible to include this with them, even if they did not state it about the one with the sound narration, and even if they did not state it about him?

The Shaykh: How could it not be? Rather, such a case, if the dating is correct.

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh: This condition is very necessary.

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh: If the dating is correct, then the narration of this one from that confused one is stronger than the narration of Shu'bah and Sufyan.

The questioner: What Allah willed, may Allah bless you. Do you mean the date of the confusion or the date of death?

The Shaykh: Both, both.

The questioner: Both.

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner: Okay, Shaykh, in this place as well, there is an important issue. Sometimes there is a disagreement regarding the date of the confusion, and sometimes regarding the date of death. For example, on the grave it says he died in the year 90, and some said 91, and some said 92. And one says he became confused in the year, for example, 91, and another says no, he became confused in the year 93, and so on. When the dates differ, do we look at the earlier date for the student and the later date forThe Shaykh : or the reverse? Perhaps my question is clear, or should I repeat it again?

The Shaykh: The question is, in my opinion, clear, and we confirm the clarity of the appearance from the answer, which is my saying: look at the most cautious.

The questioner: What Allah willed, the most cautious, so that one does not act upon doubt.

The Shaykh : Yes, indeed.

The questioner: The most cautious regarding the student.

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner: One looks at the earlier.

The Shaykh: The earlier.

The questioner: The earlier, andThe Shaykh : one looks at the later.

The Shaykh : Yes, indeed.

The questioner : May Allah bless you.

The Shaykh: May Allah bless you, yes, it is clear.

The questioner: The answer is clear, the question is clear, may Allah bless you. Because these issues, O Shaykh, come across us during the work of verification, and a person stands confused in them, finding no explicit text, and needs you in practice and study. Yes, may Allah bless you.

The Shaykh: I think al-Hafiz al-Dhahabi has a word on this matter. Al-Dhahabi has a word that, regarding the meaning, I am saying now, regarding the later shaykhs from whom the hafizs narrate, their narration is carried on the basis of soundness until something appears that negates the soundness!