What should a student of knowledge know about the stages of al-jarh wa al-ta'dil (the critique and vindication of narrators), and what are the authoritative books in this regard?
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The questioner : If you would permit me, what stage should a student of hadith knowledge reach in order to understand the stages of al-jarh wa al-ta'dil (the critique and vindication of narrators), and what are the books used as evidence?
The Shaykh : The stages are long-term, because one should devote his life, for about ten years, until he is able to know, first: the terminology of hadith, second: the reference for al-jarh wa al-ta'dil (the critique and vindication of narrators), and third and finally: the synthesis of the two sciences through practice and application. After that, he will be able to judge hadiths or the chains of hadiths with the validity or weakness they deserve.
The questioner : If you would permit me, Your Eminence,The Shaykh : Okay, regarding the book al-Raf' wa al-Takmil (Elevation and Completion) in the science of al-jarh wa al-ta'dil (the critique and vindication of narrators), is it possible for a student of knowledge who is, for example, moving beyond the initial stage in hadith science to follow this book? And what is your opinion of this book?
The Shaykh : One does not start with this. The books one starts with are the well-known books on terminology, such as Ibn Kathir's book Ikhtisar 'Ulum al-Hadith (Summary of Hadith Sciences) and Ahmad Shakir's commentary on it, then other books such as Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani's Sharh al-Nukhba (Commentary on al-Nukhba) and others. As for this book, it benefits one who has moved beyond these books and wants to gain insight into the disagreements and differences in perspectives on certain matters; he benefits from referring to al-Raf' wa al-Takmil (Elevation and Completion).
The questioner : Do you recommend another book, such as al-Turrah in the science of al-jarh wa al-ta'dil (the critique and vindication of narrators)?
The Shaykh : I mentioned to you just now.
The questioner : Books by others?
The Shaykh : Many, very many.
The questioner : Okay, why are there not schools for students of knowledge, where there is discussion, from which a person can benefit, and then textbooks?
The Shaykh : Why is this so? It goes back to those who manage the affairs of the nation, namely the rulers. This is the first shortcoming and deficiency among the rulers...
The questioner : Is al-Fayha' Mosque decorated?
The Shaykh : It is decorated with all kinds of decoration, because when it was built, it was built without knowledge of the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law), and this is the least that can be said. And you are the one who asked just now about the ruling on decoration?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : I heard the answer and understood it. So, if you see a decorated mosque, know that the affairs of those who decorated it revolve around one of two things:
The Shaykh : Either they do not know Islam, or they intend to show off to people that they love the mosques of Allah and decorate them, whereas this decoration is not part of Islam in any way, as I mentioned to you just now.
The Shaykh : The stages are long-term, because one should devote his life, for about ten years, until he is able to know, first: the terminology of hadith, second: the reference for al-jarh wa al-ta'dil (the critique and vindication of narrators), and third and finally: the synthesis of the two sciences through practice and application. After that, he will be able to judge hadiths or the chains of hadiths with the validity or weakness they deserve.
The questioner : If you would permit me, Your Eminence,The Shaykh : Okay, regarding the book al-Raf' wa al-Takmil (Elevation and Completion) in the science of al-jarh wa al-ta'dil (the critique and vindication of narrators), is it possible for a student of knowledge who is, for example, moving beyond the initial stage in hadith science to follow this book? And what is your opinion of this book?
The Shaykh : One does not start with this. The books one starts with are the well-known books on terminology, such as Ibn Kathir's book Ikhtisar 'Ulum al-Hadith (Summary of Hadith Sciences) and Ahmad Shakir's commentary on it, then other books such as Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani's Sharh al-Nukhba (Commentary on al-Nukhba) and others. As for this book, it benefits one who has moved beyond these books and wants to gain insight into the disagreements and differences in perspectives on certain matters; he benefits from referring to al-Raf' wa al-Takmil (Elevation and Completion).
The questioner : Do you recommend another book, such as al-Turrah in the science of al-jarh wa al-ta'dil (the critique and vindication of narrators)?
The Shaykh : I mentioned to you just now.
The questioner : Books by others?
The Shaykh : Many, very many.
The questioner : Okay, why are there not schools for students of knowledge, where there is discussion, from which a person can benefit, and then textbooks?
The Shaykh : Why is this so? It goes back to those who manage the affairs of the nation, namely the rulers. This is the first shortcoming and deficiency among the rulers...
The questioner : Is al-Fayha' Mosque decorated?
The Shaykh : It is decorated with all kinds of decoration, because when it was built, it was built without knowledge of the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law), and this is the least that can be said. And you are the one who asked just now about the ruling on decoration?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : I heard the answer and understood it. So, if you see a decorated mosque, know that the affairs of those who decorated it revolve around one of two things:
The Shaykh : Either they do not know Islam, or they intend to show off to people that they love the mosques of Allah and decorate them, whereas this decoration is not part of Islam in any way, as I mentioned to you just now.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.