What is our obligation regarding the Sirah, given that much weak material and accounts of what occurred between the Companions have entered it?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
May the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : A short while ago, O Shaykh, you mentioned the story of the spider and the story of the pigeon, stating that they are not authentic regarding their protection of the Messenger and his companion Abu Bakr. However, O Shaykh, the books of the Sirah write this and other fabricated, false stories, whether concerning the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) or the conflict that occurred between 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and Mu'awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan. The enemies of Islam tried to enter upon us and upon Islam through the Qur'an, but Allah preserved it, and through the Sunnah. Allah has appointed those who distinguish the authentic from the weak. But, O Shaykh, some of the books of the Sirah that I have encountered in my university studies have spoken about the Companions. The question, O Shaykh, is: What is our obligation regarding the Sirah?
The Shaykh : The Sirah: The Sirah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the other Caliphs requires purification without a doubt, because history is influenced by bias. It is influenced by bias; whoever prevails is exalted, and whoever is defeated is disparaged. We give you an example with the presidents who succeeded one another in the Arab states. When one of them dies, his record is erased and buried, but if he is still in power, he is made the supreme president above whom there is no one, and this is written and remains. So you find, for example, those who have a bias toward the Umayyad Caliphs praising these Caliphs greatly, and those who are opposed to them disparaging them greatly. Therefore, there is no doubt that the Sirah requires verification and editing so that the weak is distinguished from the strong. And I have not yet found anyone who has done this, except for something that is hidden from me and I do not know. But in the Sirah, what is established in al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim is what is relied upon.
May the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : A short while ago, O Shaykh, you mentioned the story of the spider and the story of the pigeon, stating that they are not authentic regarding their protection of the Messenger and his companion Abu Bakr. However, O Shaykh, the books of the Sirah write this and other fabricated, false stories, whether concerning the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) or the conflict that occurred between 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and Mu'awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan. The enemies of Islam tried to enter upon us and upon Islam through the Qur'an, but Allah preserved it, and through the Sunnah. Allah has appointed those who distinguish the authentic from the weak. But, O Shaykh, some of the books of the Sirah that I have encountered in my university studies have spoken about the Companions. The question, O Shaykh, is: What is our obligation regarding the Sirah?
The Shaykh : The Sirah: The Sirah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the other Caliphs requires purification without a doubt, because history is influenced by bias. It is influenced by bias; whoever prevails is exalted, and whoever is defeated is disparaged. We give you an example with the presidents who succeeded one another in the Arab states. When one of them dies, his record is erased and buried, but if he is still in power, he is made the supreme president above whom there is no one, and this is written and remains. So you find, for example, those who have a bias toward the Umayyad Caliphs praising these Caliphs greatly, and those who are opposed to them disparaging them greatly. Therefore, there is no doubt that the Sirah requires verification and editing so that the weak is distinguished from the strong. And I have not yet found anyone who has done this, except for something that is hidden from me and I do not know. But in the Sirah, what is established in al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim is what is relied upon.