Is reading to a Shaykh for the purpose of establishing a chain of transmission a recommended practice that carries virtue or blessing?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah reward you. Many students of knowledge, both from the Sufis and the Sunnis, prefer having a chain of transmission in jurisprudence and hadith.
The Shaykh : A chain of transmission?
The questioner : Yes, that is correct.
The Shaykh : What is a chain of transmission?
The questioner : Yes, some Shaykhs have a chain of transmission. They say: I read to so-and-so, and so-and-so read to so-and-so, and so-and-so read to so-and-so, until they trace this back to the Companions.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : They prefer the Shaykh who connects the chain of transmission, meaning: who connects the chain to so-and-so and so-and-so. They say that by mentioning this chain of transmission, blessings descend. This is from the Sufis.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : As for the Sunnis, they say that reading to a chain of transmission has merit and virtues. So what is your guidance, may Allah reward you with good, for these students? Is there merit in this as they claim?
May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Yes, first: establishing a chain of transmission is difficult given the length of time involved. Listen, man! That is enough, ask someone else!
The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah reward you. We need the answer.
The Shaykh : It is not one person asking while others are busy.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Yes.
The Shaykh : A chain of transmission?
The questioner : Yes, that is correct.
The Shaykh : What is a chain of transmission?
The questioner : Yes, some Shaykhs have a chain of transmission. They say: I read to so-and-so, and so-and-so read to so-and-so, and so-and-so read to so-and-so, until they trace this back to the Companions.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : They prefer the Shaykh who connects the chain of transmission, meaning: who connects the chain to so-and-so and so-and-so. They say that by mentioning this chain of transmission, blessings descend. This is from the Sufis.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : As for the Sunnis, they say that reading to a chain of transmission has merit and virtues. So what is your guidance, may Allah reward you with good, for these students? Is there merit in this as they claim?
May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Yes, first: establishing a chain of transmission is difficult given the length of time involved. Listen, man! That is enough, ask someone else!
The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah reward you. We need the answer.
The Shaykh : It is not one person asking while others are busy.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Yes.