What is the ruling on using weak hadiths as evidence?
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The questioner : This questioner asks: What is the ruling on using weak hadiths as evidence?
The Shaykh : It is not permissible to use weak hadiths as evidence, nor is it permissible to present them as proof, even if they concern the virtues of deeds or the punishment for bad deeds, unless they are mentioned in the context of virtues, encouraging good, or deterring from evil, provided that their weakness is made clear. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Mishkat al-Masabih 199 It is also established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: Sunan Abi Dawud 3651Sahih (Al-Albani) Some scholars have permitted narrating weak hadiths, but with three conditions. The first condition is that the weakness is not severe. The second condition is that it has a sound basis. The third condition is that one does not believe that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said it. Accordingly, it is narrated by saying, "It is reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)," or "It is mentioned from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)," or similar phrasing.
The implication of these conditions is that if the weakness is severe, it is not permissible to narrate it or mention it.
And if it has no basis, it is not permissible to narrate it or mention it. By our saying that it has a basis, we mean that a weak hadith comes regarding, for example, the virtue of congregational prayer and the abundance of its reward. This has a basis, which is that congregational prayer is prescribed and obligatory. So if a hadith is found that adds encouragement and increases the reward, we benefit from it by striving for this prayer and hoping for the reward mentioned in the hadith. This does not affect our righteous deeds, because the soul hopes without certainty. However, if it has no sound basis, it is not permissible to mention it or narrate it at all.
As for the third condition, that one does not believe that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said it, this is because it is weak, and it is not permissible for me to believe that the Messenger said it if it is weak and not authentic from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), because that is a type of lying about him. And Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Isra 17:36] But if a weak hadith becomes widespread among people, it is obligatory for the person who knows its weakness to mention it among people and clarify that it is weak, so that they are not deceived by it. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. This questioner says: O honorable Shaykh, tell us about secret charity. What is it?
The Shaykh : Returning to the first answer.
The questioner : Okay, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : We say that nowadays there are often publications that contain weak hadiths and stories with no basis, and they are then circulated among the general public. I say to whoever publishes them or assists in their publication that he has sinned by doing so, because he misleads people from the path of Allah and misleads the servants of Allah with these fabricated and made-up hadiths. Sometimes the hadith is fabricated, not just weak. Then you find some ignorant people who want to do good, and they think that publishing this is among the things that warn people and frighten them with the warnings or threats contained in it. They do not realize that the matter is serious and that frightening people with what has no basis is forbidden, because it is causing fear without right. Or it may encourage something that is not authentic from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), but is fabricated. This is also forbidden, because people rely on it being established and count it with Allah the Mighty and Majestic, whereas it is not so. Let those who publish these publications beware of being among those who fabricate lies about Allah to mislead people without knowledge.
And let them know that Allah does not guide the people who are unjust, and that this is injustice. It is injustice on their part to publish for the servants of Allah what is not established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : It is not permissible to use weak hadiths as evidence, nor is it permissible to present them as proof, even if they concern the virtues of deeds or the punishment for bad deeds, unless they are mentioned in the context of virtues, encouraging good, or deterring from evil, provided that their weakness is made clear. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
If anyone relates a tradition from me thinking that it is false, he is one of the liars.
من حدّث عني بحديث كذب يرى أنه كذب فهو أحد الكاذبينHe who lies about me deliberately will certainly come to his abode in Hell.
من كذب علي متعمّدا فليتبوّأ مقعده من النارThe implication of these conditions is that if the weakness is severe, it is not permissible to narrate it or mention it.
And if it has no basis, it is not permissible to narrate it or mention it. By our saying that it has a basis, we mean that a weak hadith comes regarding, for example, the virtue of congregational prayer and the abundance of its reward. This has a basis, which is that congregational prayer is prescribed and obligatory. So if a hadith is found that adds encouragement and increases the reward, we benefit from it by striving for this prayer and hoping for the reward mentioned in the hadith. This does not affect our righteous deeds, because the soul hopes without certainty. However, if it has no sound basis, it is not permissible to mention it or narrate it at all.
As for the third condition, that one does not believe that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said it, this is because it is weak, and it is not permissible for me to believe that the Messenger said it if it is weak and not authentic from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), because that is a type of lying about him. And Allah the Exalted said:
And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart - about all those [one] will be questioned.
وَلا تَقفُ ما لَيسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلمٌ إِنَّ السَّمعَ وَالبَصَرَ وَالفُؤادَ كُلُّ أُولئِكَ كانَ عَنهُ مَسؤولًاThe questioner : May Allah reward you. This questioner says: O honorable Shaykh, tell us about secret charity. What is it?
The Shaykh : Returning to the first answer.
The questioner : Okay, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : We say that nowadays there are often publications that contain weak hadiths and stories with no basis, and they are then circulated among the general public. I say to whoever publishes them or assists in their publication that he has sinned by doing so, because he misleads people from the path of Allah and misleads the servants of Allah with these fabricated and made-up hadiths. Sometimes the hadith is fabricated, not just weak. Then you find some ignorant people who want to do good, and they think that publishing this is among the things that warn people and frighten them with the warnings or threats contained in it. They do not realize that the matter is serious and that frightening people with what has no basis is forbidden, because it is causing fear without right. Or it may encourage something that is not authentic from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), but is fabricated. This is also forbidden, because people rely on it being established and count it with Allah the Mighty and Majestic, whereas it is not so. Let those who publish these publications beware of being among those who fabricate lies about Allah to mislead people without knowledge.
And let them know that Allah does not guide the people who are unjust, and that this is injustice. It is injustice on their part to publish for the servants of Allah what is not established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
The questioner : May Allah bless you.