In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Beneficent - All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and the [praiseworthy] end is for those who fear Him; and may Allah send blessings upon Muhammad, seal of the Prophets, and upon all the Prophets and Messengers.

As to what follows: Indeed you mentioned, may Allah have mercy on you, by the guidance of your Creator, that you were interested in an examination of what is known of all the transmitted reports on authority of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ regarding traditions of the Dīn, its rulings, and everything from it regarding rewards, punishments, motivations, admonishments, and other descriptive topics through chains of narration which were related by and circulated between Ahl ul-Ilm. Thus you wished, may Allah guide you aright, to be informed about all of [the transmitted reports] in the form of a calculated composition and you asked me to abridge [it] for you in writing without a great amount of repetition. You allege that [much repetition] would distract you from what you intended in terms of understanding and deriving rulings from [the reports]. And because of that which you have asked, may Allah be generous with you, when I am attributed to its successful management and whatever condition can be construed by it, if Allah wills, (it will lead to) a praiseworthy ending and obtainable benefit.

I thought at the time you asked me to undertake that [task]- if it was determined for me to do so, and preordained for me to complete it- that the first to benefit from that would be me specifically before anyone else and this is due to a great number of reasons which are too lengthy to describe except [to say] that in summary, having precision regarding a select few [narrations], and accuracy in them, is easier for a person than to undertake of a great number of them, and especially for one who is indistinguishable in it from the common people [in this matter] unless someone else informs him of the distinction.

If the matter is just as we described, then focusing on the few authentic narrations is worthier for them than seeking an abundance of weak narrations. Although indeed it is hoped for that some benefit is attained by seeking after a large number [of Ḥadīth] of this type, and gathering the repetitions for them, but only for the elite who are endowed with some awareness and knowledge in their means [of ascertaining authenticity] and defects. Thus that, if Allah wills, will happen through whatever will be brought to bear of that [awareness, distinction, knowledge of the means, and defects] on the advantage in seeking large numbers of [the various categories of Ḥadīth]. And as for the common people who are different from the elite in terms of awareness and knowledge, then it is senseless for them to seek large numbers [of various categories of Ḥadīth], while they are unaware of the few [Sahīh]. Then we, if Allah wills, will begin to extract and compose what you have asked upon conditions which we shall mention to you.

We set ourselves upon the entirety of what is transmitted from the reports on authority of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ Then we divided it up into three sections and three levels of people without repetition except:

1) When coming to a point where it was essential to repeat a narration in which there is an addition that clarifies the meaning of the first one; or

2) When there is a second chain that supports the first one in some hidden defect present since the additional significance in the second Ḥadīth assumes the position of a complete Ḥadīth.

Repeating narrations which have the kind of ‘addition’ we described is inevitable [since it eliminates the perceived hidden defect of the first narration]; or that significance [of the addition] is separated from the entire narration by abbreviating it when it is possible [to understand the significance from a small part of the narration], however separating the relevant part of the narration from the rest might make it difficult to understand the link between them, so repeating it in its original form when that proves difficult is safest. Thus when we find that it is avoidable to repeat the narrations in their entirety we take care not to do so, if Allah wills.

As for the first category, we aspired to advance the report which is safer from defects than any others, and is purified due to being related by people of integrity in Ḥadīth, and certitude for what they relate; there are no strong disputes found [compared to the reports of other Thiqāt] regarding their transmissions, and no excessive inconsistencies [in their own reports] - just as is the case regarding a great number of Muhaddithīn and which appears in their narrations.

Thus when we examined reports of this description from the people, we also came across reports in whose chains there fell some of those who are not described with memorization and precision, like those of the previous description before them. Although they fell below what we described [from the first group], they still have the designation of protection [from ill-repute] and truthfulness; and they acquired knowledge, included among them are the likes of Atā’ bin is-Sā’ib, and Yazīd bin Abī Ziyād, and Layth bin Abī Sulaym, from among the carriers of Āthār and the relaters of Akhbār. So even though they possessed what we described of knowledge, protection and being known as scholars among Ahl ul-Ilm, their contemporaries who we mentioned as precise and sound in transmission were above them in status and rank because this [the first category] is a high rank and sublime characteristic according to Ahl ul-Ilm.

Do you not see that when you weigh these three people we mentioned- Atā’, Yazīd, and Layth- with Mansūr bin il-Mu’tamir, Sulaymān al-A’mash and Ismā’īl bin Abī Khālid in regards to precision in Ḥadīth and soundness in it, you will find them distinct from others and not near them [in rank?]- there is no doubt regarding that among the people knowledgeable in Ḥadīth since the soundness of the memorization of Mansūr, al-A’mash, and Ismā’īl, and their precision in Ḥadīth was well-known among [the people knowledgeable in Ḥadīth] and they were not aware of examples of that from Atā’, Yazīd, and Layth. Upon the same course as the above, when you weigh between the two levels like Ibn Awn and Ayyūb as-Sakhtiyānī with Awf ibn Abī Jamīlah and Ash’ath al-Humrānī- and all 4 are companions of al-Hasan and Ibn Sīrīn- there is disparity between the two groups. Between these two groups is a distance in terms of perfection of virtue and soundness of reporting even though Awf and Ash’ath are not repelled from [the status] of truthfulness and honesty according to Ahl ul-Ilm, rather the situation is as we described regarding their position.

We only mentioned these examples by way of naming them specifically so that their examples might be an indication for whoever is ignorant of the path to return to understanding of Ahl ul-Ilm regarding the ranking of its people. Thus there is no shortchanging the men of elevated rank any amount of what is due his level, and there is no elevation of those who are lower any amount of knowledge above his position- and each who possesses the right is given his right and is settled in his rank.

It has been mentioned on authority of Ā’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that she said: ‘The Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered us to afford people their (rightful) positions according to what the Qur’ān states: {And above all who possess knowledge is another who is knowledgeable} [Yūsuf: 76] . Thus based on the example of what we mentioned [regarding the narrators of Hifẓ and Itqān, and narrations which lack excessive inconsistency or strong contradiction], we compiled what you asked for of [those kind] of reports on authority of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ

As for anything of that wherein the people were charged [with some criticism] by the people of Ḥadīth, or by the majority of [the people of Ḥadīth], then we did not preoccupy ourselves with bringing forward their narrations, such as Abd Allah ibn Miswar Abī Ja’far il-Madā’inī, Amr bin Khālid, Abd il-Quddūs ash-Shāmī, Muhammad ibn Sa’īd il-Maslūb, Ghiyāth ibn Ibrāhīm, Sulaymān bin Amr Abī Dāwud an-Nakha’ī, and those like them whereof they were accused of fabricating narrations and manufacturing reports; and like that are those whose narrations are dominated with Munkar, or mistakes- we withheld from their narrations as well.

An indication of Munkar in the narration of a Muhaddith is when his transmission differs with the transmission of a Muhaddith from the people of memorization and acceptance, or does not agree with it when the two are compared. When the majority of a person’s narrations are like that, he is abandoned [Mahjūr] in Ḥadīth, and not accepted in it, and his narrations are not acted upon. The following are those Muhaddithīn who are among this group: Abd Allah ibn Muharrar, Yahyā bin Abī Unaysah, Al-Jarrāh bin ul-Minhāl Abūl-Atūf, Abbād bin Kathīr, Husayn bin Abd Illah ibn Ḍumayrah, Umar bin Suhbān, and those of the same type in terms of transmission of Munkar Ḥadīth. We did not pause upon their narrations or preoccupy ourselves with them due to the ruling of Ahl ul-Ilm.

That which we are aware of from their school of thought in accepting what is singularly reported by a Muhaddith from the narrations is that (the Muhaddith) took part along with the trustworthy narrators from Ahl ul-Ilm wal-Hifẓ in transmitting some of what they transmitted, and [the Muhaddith] is predominantly in agreement with them; when one is found like that, then if he adds to [the transmission] anything not found with his companions, then his addition is accepted.

As for those who you see resorting to the likes of az-Zuhrī due to his greatness, and due to the great number of his companions being among the precise Huffāẓ, [resorting to] his Ḥadīth and the Ḥadīth of those like him, or to the likes of Hishām ibn Urwah, then their Ḥadīth are extensively shared among Ahl ul-Ilm. The greater majority of their companions related their Ḥadīth in agreement with one another [with few having contradictions]. Thus to transmit from [Urwah and az-Zuhrī], or one of them, from among the multitude of Ḥadīth, what is not known among any of their companions, and [the Rāwī] is not of those who share in the Sahīh narrations [found] among them, then it is not allowed to accept the narrations of this category of people, and Allah knows best.

We have explained from the school of Ḥadīth and its people some of what those who wish to traverse the path of [the Muhaddithīn] should aim for, and be guided towards. We will, if Allah wills, add to the explanation and clarification in another place in this book upon the mention of defective reports [Mu’allalah] when we come to it, in the places where explanation and clarification are appropriate, if Allah wills.

And what follows: May Allah have mercy on you, if not for that which we saw of an evil act, largely from those who claim to be Muhaddithīn, in what they were supposed to adhere to when putting forward weak narrations and abominable transmissions and their neglect for the investigation of famous Sahīh narrations related by the trustworthy narrators, well-known for their truthfulness and honesty, after knowledge of them and affirmation with their tongues, that a great many of [weak and abominable narrations] which were cast towards heedless people are denounced and spoken of as not acceptable whereof the A’immah of the people of Ḥadīth criticized their transmissions- A’immah like Mālik ibn Anas, Shu’bat bin al-Hajjāj, Sufyān bin Uyaynah, Yahyā bin Sa’īd al-Qattān, Abd ir-Rahman ibn Mahdī, and other A’immah- then the establishment of what you asked for of distinction [between the types of Ḥadīth] and collection [of those which were Sahīh] would be easy for us. However on account of what we informed you of regarding the people’s circulation of abominable reports with weak, unknown chains, and their casting them towards the common people who are not aware of their defects, responding to what you asked became lighter upon our hearts.  

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ. الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ خَاتَمِ النَّبِيِّينَ وَعَلَى جَمِيعِ الأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ۔

أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّكَ يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ بِتَوْفِيقِ خَالِقِكَ ذَكَرْتَ أَنَّكَ هَمَمْتَ بِالْفَحْصِ عَنْ تَعَرُّفِ جُمْلَةِ الأَخْبَارِ الْمَأْثُورَةِ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي سُنَنِ الدِّينِ وَأَحْكَامِهِ وَمَا كَانَ مِنْهَا فِي الثَّوَابِ وَالْعِقَابِ وَالتَّرْغِيبِ وَالتَّرْهِيبِ وَغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ مِنْ صُنُوفِ الأَشْيَاءِ بِالأَسَانِيدِ الَّتِي بِهَا نُقِلَتْ وَتَدَاوَلَهَا أَهْلُ الْعِلْمِ فِيمَا بَيْنَهُمْ فَأَرَدْتَ- أَرْشَدَكَ اللَّهُ- أَنْ تُوَقَّفَ عَلَى جُمْلَتِهَا مُؤَلَّفَةً مُحْصَاةً وَسَأَلْتَنِي أَنْ أُلَخِّصَهَا لَكَ فِي التَّأْلِيفِ بِلاَ تَكْرَارٍ يَكْثُرُ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ- زَعَمْتَ- مِمَّا يَشْغَلُكَ عَمَّا لَهُ قَصَدْتَ مِنَ التَّفَهُّمِ فِيهَا وَالاِسْتِنْبَاطِ مِنْهَا. وَلِلَّذِي سَأَلْتَ- أَكْرَمَكَ اللَّهُ- حِينَ رَجَعْتُ إِلَى تَدَبُّرِهِ وَمَا تَؤُولُ بِهِ الْحَالُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ عَاقِبَةٌ مَحْمُودَةٌ وَمَنْفَعَةٌ مَوْجُودَةٌ وَظَنَنْتُ- حِينَ سَأَلْتَنِي تَجَشُّمَ ذَلِكَ- أَنْ لَوْ عُزِمَ لِي عَلَيْهِ وَقُضِيَ لِي تَمَامُهُ كَانَ أَوَّلُ مَنْ يُصِيبُهُ نَفْعُ ذَلِكَ إِيَّايَ خَاصَّةً قَبْلَ غَيْرِي مِنَ النَّاسِ لأَسْبَابٍ كَثِيرَةٍ يَطُولُ بِذِكْرِهَا الْوَصْفُ إِلاَّ أَنَّ جُمْلَةَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ ضَبْطَ الْقَلِيلِ مِنْ هَذَا الشَّانِ وَإِتْقَانَهُ أَيْسَرُ عَلَى الْمَرْءِ مِنْ مُعَالَجَةِ الْكَثِيرِ مِنْهُ. ولاسيما عِنْدَ مَنْ لاَ تَمْيِيزَ عِنْدَهُ مِنَ الْعَوَامِّ إِلاَّ بِأَنْ يُوَقِّفَهُ عَلَى التَّمْيِيزِ غَيْرُهُ. فَإِذَا كَانَ الأَمْرُ فِي هَذَا كَمَا وَصَفْنَا فَالْقَصْدُ مِنْهُ إِلَى الصَّحِيحِ الْقَلِيلِ أَوْلَى بِهِمْ مِنَ ازْدِيَادِ السَّقِيمِ وَإِنَّمَا يُرْجَى بَعْضُ الْمَنْفَعَةِ فِي الاِسْتِكْثَارِ مِنْ هَذَا الشَّانِ وَجَمْعِ الْمُكَرَّرَاتِ مِنْهُ لِخَاصَّةٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ مِمَّنْ رُزِقَ فِيهِ بَعْضَ التَّيَقُّظِ وَالْمَعْرِفَةِ بِأَسْبَابِهِ وَعِلَلِهِ فَذَلِكَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ يَهْجُمُ بِمَا أُوتِيَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ عَلَى الْفَائِدَةِ فِي الاِسْتِكْثَارِ مِنْ جَمْعِهِ. فَأَمَّا عَوَامُّ النَّاسِ الَّذِينَ هُمْ بِخِلاَفِ مَعَانِي الْخَاصِّ مِنْ أَهْلِ التَّيَقُّظِ وَالْمَعْرِفَةِ فَلاَ مَعْنَى لَهُمْ فِي طَلَبِ الْكَثِيرِ وَقَدْ عَجَزُوا عَنْ مَعْرِفَةِ الْقَلِيلِ.

ثُمَّ إِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مُبْتَدِئُونَ فِي تَخْرِيجِ مَا سَأَلْتَ وَتَأْلِيفِهِ عَلَى شَرِيطَةٍ سَوْفَ أَذْكُرُهَا لَكَ وَهُوَ إِنَّا نَعْمِدُ إِلَى جُمْلَةِ مَا أُسْنِدَ مِنَ الأَخْبَارِ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَنَقْسِمُهَا عَلَى ثَلاَثَةِ أَقْسَامٍ وَثَلاَثِ طَبَقَاتٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ عَلَى غَيْرِ تَكْرَارٍ. إِلاَّ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ مَوْضِعٌ لاَ يُسْتَغْنَى فِيهِ عَنْ تَرْدَادِ حَدِيثٍ فِيهِ زِيَادَةُ مَعْنًى أَوْ إِسْنَادٌ يَقَعُ إِلَى جَنْبِ إِسْنَادٍ لِعِلَّةٍ تَكُونُ هُنَاكَ لأَنَّ الْمَعْنَى الزَّائِدَ فِي الْحَدِيثِ الْمُحْتَاجَ إِلَيْهِ يَقُومُ مَقَامَ حَدِيثٍ تَامٍّ فلابد مِنْ إِعَادَةِ الْحَدِيثِ الَّذِي فِيهِ مَا وَصَفْنَا مِنَ الزِّيَادَةِ أَوْ أَنْ يُفَصَّلَ ذَلِكَ الْمَعْنَى مِنْ جُمْلَةِ الْحَدِيثِ عَلَى اخْتِصَارِهِ إِذَا أَمْكَنَ. وَلَكِنْ تَفْصِيلُهُ رُبَّمَا عَسُرَ مِنْ جُمْلَتِهِ فَإِعَادَتُهُ بِهَيْئَتِهِ إِذَا ضَاقَ ذَلِكَ أَسْلَمُ

فَأَمَّا مَا وَجَدْنَا بُدًّا مِنْ إِعَادَتِهِ بِجُمْلَتِهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ حَاجَةٍ مِنَّا إِلَيْهِ فَلاَ نَتَوَلَّى فِعْلَهُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى. فَأَمَّا الْقِسْمُ الأَوَّلُ فَإِنَّا نَتَوَخَّى أَنْ نُقَدِّمَ الأَخْبَارَ الَّتِي هِيَ أَسْلَمُ مِنَ الْعُيُوبِ مِنْ غَيْرِهَا وَأَنْقَى مِنْ أَنْ يَكُونَ نَاقِلُوهَا أَهْلَ اسْتِقَامَةٍ فِي الْحَدِيثِ وَإِتْقَانٍ لِمَا نَقَلُوا لَمْ يُوجَدْ فِي رِوَايَتِهِمِ اخْتِلاَفٌ شَدِيدٌ وَلاَ تَخْلِيطٌ فَاحِشٌ كَمَا قَدْ عُثِرَ فِيهِ عَلَى كَثِيرٍ مِنَ الْمُحَدِّثِينَ وَبَانَ ذَلِكَ فِي حَدِيثِهِمْ.

فَإِذَا نَحْنُ تَقَصَّيْنَا أَخْبَارَ هَذَا الصِّنْفِ مِنَ النَّاسِ أَتْبَعْنَاهَا أَخْبَارًا يَقَعُ فِي أَسَانِيدِهَا بَعْضُ مَنْ لَيْسَ بِالْمَوْصُوفِ بِالْحِفْظِ وَالإِتْقَانِ كَالصِّنْفِ الْمُقَدَّمِ قَبْلَهُمْ عَلَى أَنَّهُمْ وَإِنْ كَانُوا فِيمَا وَصَفْنَا دُونَهُمْ فَإِنَّ اسْمَ السِّتْرِ وَالصِّدْقِ وَتَعَاطِي الْعِلْمِ يَشْمَلُهُمْ كَعَطَاءِ بْنِ السَّائِبِ وَيَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي زِيَادٍ وَلَيْثِ بْنِ أَبِي سُلَيْمٍ وَأَضْرَابِهِمْ مِنْ حُمَّالِ الآثَارِ وَنُقَّالِ الأَخْبَارِ.

فَهُمْ وَإِنْ كَانُوا بِمَا وَصَفْنَا مِنَ الْعِلْمِ وَالسِّتْرِ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ مَعْرُوفِينَ فَغَيْرُهُمْ مِنْ أَقْرَانِهِمْ مِمَّنْ عِنْدَهُمْ مَا ذَكَرْنَا مِنَ الإِتْقَانِ وَالاِسْتِقَامَةِ فِي الرِّوَايَةِ يَفْضُلُونَهُمْ فِي الْحَالِ وَالْمَرْتَبَةِ لأَنَّ هَذَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ دَرَجَةٌ رَفِيعَةٌ وَخَصْلَةٌ سَنِيَّةٌ.

أَلاَ تَرَى أَنَّكَ إِذَا وَازَنْتَ هَؤُلاَءِ الثَّلاَثَةَ الَّذِينَ سَمَّيْنَاهُمْ عَطَاءً وَيَزِيدَ وَلَيْثًا بِمَنْصُورِ بْنِ الْمُعْتَمِرِ وَسُلَيْمَانَ الأَعْمَشِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ أَبِي خَالِدٍ فِي إِتْقَانِ الْحَدِيثِ وَالاِسْتِقَامَةِ فِيهِ وَجَدْتَهُمْ مُبَايِنِينَ لَهُمْ لاَ يُدَانُونَهُمْ لاَ شَكَّ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ بِالْحَدِيثِ فِي ذَلِكَ لِلَّذِي اسْتَفَاضَ عِنْدَهُمْ مِنْ صِحَّةِ حِفْظِ مَنْصُورٍ وَالأَعْمَشِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِتْقَانِهِمْ لِحَدِيثِهِمْ وَأَنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَعْرِفُوا مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ عَطَاءٍ وَيَزِيدَ وَلَيْثٍ.

وَفِي مِثْلِ مَجْرَى هَؤُلاَءِ إِذَا وَازَنْتَ بَيْنَ الأَقْرَانِ كَابْنِ عَوْنٍ وَأَيُّوبَ السَّخْتِيَانِيِّ مَعَ عَوْفِ بْنِ أَبِي جَمِيلَةَ وَأَشْعَثَ الْحُمْرَانِيِّ وَهُمَا صَاحِبَا الْحَسَنِ وَابْنِ سِيرِينَ كَمَا أَنَّ ابْنَ عَوْنٍ وَأَيُّوبَ صَاحِبَاهُمَا إِلاَّ أَنَّ الْبَوْنَ بَيْنَهُمَا وَبَيْنَ هَذَيْنِ بَعِيدٌ فِي كَمَالِ الْفَضْلِ وَصِحَّةِ النَّقْلِ وَإِنْ كَانَ عَوْفٌ وَأَشْعَثُ غَيْرَ مَدْفُوعَيْنِ عَنْ صِدْقٍ وَأَمَانَةٍ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ وَلَكِنَّ الْحَالَ مَا وَصَفْنَا مِنَ الْمَنْزِلَةِ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ.

وَإِنَّمَا مَثَّلْنَا هَؤُلاَءِ فِي التَّسْمِيَةِ لِيَكُونَ تَمْثِيلُهُمْ سِمَةً يَصْدُرُ عَنْ فَهْمِهَا مَنْ غَبِيَ عَلَيْهِ طَرِيقُ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ فِي تَرْتِيبِ أَهْلِهِ فِيهِ فَلاَ يُقَصَّرُ بِالرَّجُلِ الْعَالِي الْقَدْرِ عَنْ دَرَجَتِهِ وَلاَ يُرْفَعُ مُتَّضِعُ الْقَدْرِ فِي الْعِلْمِ فَوْقَ مَنْزِلَتِهِ وَيُعْطَى كُلُّ ذِي حَقٍّ فِيهِ حَقَّهُ وَيُنَزَّلُ مَنْزِلَتَهُ.

وَقَدْ ذُكِرَ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهَا أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ أَمَرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنْ نُنَزِّلَ النَّاسَ مَنَازِلَهُمْ. مَعَ مَا نَطَقَ بِهِ الْقُرْآنُ مِنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: {وَفَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِي عِلْمٍ عَلِيمٌ}.

فَعَلَى نَحْوِ مَا ذَكَرْنَا مِنَ الْوُجُوهِ نُؤَلِّفُ مَا سَأَلْتَ مِنَ الأَخْبَارِ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ.

فَأَمَّا مَا كَانَ مِنْهَا عَنْ قَوْمٍ هُمْ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْحَدِيثِ مُتَّهَمُونَ أَوْ عِنْدَ الأَكْثَرِ مِنْهُمْ فَلَسْنَا نَتَشَاغَلُ بِتَخْرِيجِ حَدِيثِهِمْ كَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مِسْوَرٍ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الْمَدَائِنِيِّ وَعَمْرِو بْنِ خَالِدٍ وَعَبْدِ الْقُدُّوسِ الشَّامِيِّ وَمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ الْمَصْلُوبِ وَغِيَاثِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَسُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ عَمْرٍو أَبِي دَاوُدَ النَّخَعِيِّ وَأَشْبَاهِهِمْ مِمَّنِ اتُّهِمَ بِوَضْعِ الأَحَادِيثِ وَتَوْلِيدِ الأَخْبَارِ.

وَكَذَلِكَ مَنِ الْغَالِبُ عَلَى حَدِيثِهِ الْمُنْكَرُ أَوِ الْغَلَطُ أَمْسَكْنَا أَيْضًا عَنْ حَدِيثِهِمْ.

وَعَلاَمَةُ الْمُنْكَرِ فِي حَدِيثِ الْمُحَدِّثِ إِذَا مَا عُرِضَتْ رِوَايَتُهُ لِلْحَدِيثِ عَلَى رِوَايَةِ غَيْرِهِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْحِفْظِ وَالرِّضَا خَالَفَتْ رِوَايَتُهُ رِوَايَتَهُمْ أَوْ لَمْ تَكَدْ تُوَافِقُهَا فَإِذَا كَانَ الأَغْلَبُ مِنْ حَدِيثِهِ كَذَلِكَ كَانَ مَهْجُورَ الْحَدِيثِ غَيْرَ مَقْبُولِهِ وَلاَ مُسْتَعْمَلِهِ.

فَمِنْ هَذَا الضَّرْبِ مِنَ الْمُحَدِّثِينَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَرَّرٍ وَيَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي أُنَيْسَةَ وَالْجَرَّاحُ بْنُ الْمِنْهَالِ أَبُو الْعَطُوفِ وَعَبَّادُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ وَحُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ ضُمَيْرَةَ وَعُمَرُ بْنُ صُهْبَانَ وَمَنْ نَحَا نَحْوَهُمْ فِي رِوَايَةِ الْمُنْكَرِ مِنَ الْحَدِيثِ. فَلَسْنَا نُعَرِّجُ عَلَى حَدِيثِهِمْ وَلاَ نَتَشَاغَلُ بِهِ.

لأَنَّ حُكْمَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ وَالَّذِي نَعْرِفُ مِنْ مَذْهَبِهِمْ فِي قَبُولِ مَا يَتَفَرَّدُ بِهِ الْمُحَدِّثُ مِنَ الْحَدِيثِ أَنْ يَكُونَ قَدْ شَارَكَ الثِّقَاتِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ وَالْحِفْظِ فِي بَعْضِ مَا رَوَوْا وَأَمْعَنَ فِي ذَلِكَ عَلَى الْمُوَافَقَةِ لَهُمْ فَإِذَا وُجِدَ كَذَلِكَ ثُمَّ زَادَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ شَيْئًا لَيْسَ عِنْدَ أَصْحَابِهِ قُبِلَتْ زِيَادَتُهُ.

فَأَمَّا مَنْ تَرَاهُ يَعْمِدُ لِمِثْلِ الزُّهْرِيِّ فِي جَلاَلَتِهِ وَكَثْرَةِ أَصْحَابِهِ الْحُفَّاظِ الْمُتْقِنِينَ لِحَدِيثِهِ وَحَدِيثِ غَيْرِهِ أَوْ لِمِثْلِ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ وَحَدِيثُهُمَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ مَبْسُوطٌ مُشْتَرَكٌ قَدْ نَقَلَ أَصْحَابُهُمَا عَنْهُمَا حَدِيثَهُمَا عَلَى الاِتِّفَاقِ مِنْهُمْ فِي أَكْثَرِهِ فَيَرْوِي عَنْهُمَا أَوْ عَنْ أَحَدِهِمَا الْعَدَدَ مِنَ الْحَدِيثِ مِمَّا لاَ يَعْرِفُهُ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِمَا وَلَيْسَ مِمَّنْ قَدْ شَارَكَهُمْ فِي الصَّحِيحِ مِمَّا عِنْدَهُمْ فَغَيْرُ جَائِزٍ قَبُولُ حَدِيثِ هَذَا الضَّرْبِ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ.

قَدْ شَرَحْنَا مِنْ مَذْهَبِ الْحَدِيثِ وَأَهْلِهِ بَعْضَ مَا يَتَوَجَّهُ بِهِ مَنْ أَرَادَ سَبِيلَ الْقَوْمِ وَوُفِّقَ لَهَا وَسَنَزِيدُ- إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى- شَرْحًا وَإِيضَاحًا فِي مَوَاضِعَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ عِنْدَ ذِكْرِ الأَخْبَارِ الْمُعَلَّلَةِ إِذَا أَتَيْنَا عَلَيْهَا فِي الأَمَاكِنِ الَّتِي يَلِيقُ بِهَا الشَّرْحُ وَالإِيضَاحُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى.

وَبَعْدُ- يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ- فَلَوْلاَ الَّذِي رَأَيْنَا مِنْ سُوءِ صَنِيعِ كَثِيرٍ مِمَّنْ نَصَبَ نَفْسَهُ مُحَدِّثًا فِيمَا يَلْزَمُهُمْ مِنْ طَرْحِ الأَحَادِيثِ الضَّعِيفَةِ وَالرِّوَايَاتِ الْمُنْكَرَةِ وَتَرْكِهِمْ الاِقْتِصَارَ عَلَى الأَحَادِيثِ الصَّحِيحَةِ الْمَشْهُورَةِ مِمَّا نَقَلَهُ الثِّقَاتُ الْمَعْرُوفُونَ بِالصِّدْقِ وَالأَمَانَةِ بَعْدَ مَعْرِفَتِهِمْ وَإِقْرَارِهِمْ بِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْ أَنَّ كَثِيرًا مِمَّا يَقْذِفُونَ بِهِ إِلَى الأَغْبِيَاءِ مِنَ النَّاسِ هُوَ مُسْتَنْكَرٌ وَمَنْقُولٌ عَنْ قَوْمٍ غَيْرِ مَرْضِيِّينَ مِمَّنْ ذَمَّ الرِّوَايَةَ عَنْهُمْ أَئِمَّةُ أَهْلِ الْحَدِيثِ مِثْلُ مَالِكِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ وَشُعْبَةَ بْنِ الْحَجَّاجِ وَسُفْيَانَ بْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ وَيَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ الْقَطَّانِ وَعَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ مَهْدِيٍّ وَغَيْرِهِمْ مِنَ الأَئِمَّةِ- لَمَا سَهُلَ عَلَيْنَا الاِنْتِصَابُ لِمَا سَأَلْتَ مِنَ التَّمْيِيزِ وَالتَّحْصِيلِ.

وَلَكِنْ مِنْ أَجْلِ مَا أَعْلَمْنَاكَ مِنْ نَشْرِ الْقَوْمِ الأَخْبَارَ الْمُنْكَرَةَ بِالأَسَانِيدِ الضِّعَافِ الْمَجْهُولَةِ وَقَذْفِهِمْ بِهَا إِلَى الْعَوَامِّ الَّذِينَ لاَ يَعْرِفُونَ عُيُوبَهَا خَفَّ عَلَى قُلُوبِنَا إِجَابَتُكَ إِلَى مَا سَأَلْتَ.  

Know - may Allah, exalted is He, grant you success – that what is obligatory upon everyone who is aware of the distinction between the Sahīh transmissions and their weak, the trustworthy narrators from those who stand accused, is to not transmit from them except what is known for the soundness of its emergence and the protection of its narrators; and that they fear what may be from those accused (of deficiency in narrating) and the stubborn people of innovation.

The proof that what we have said is required above what opposes it is in the verse: {Oh you who believe! If a sinful person comes to you with news, then verify it lest you afflict people through ignorance then you become sorry about what you did}[al-Hujurāt: 6]; and the verse: {… from whom you are pleased with from the witnesses}[al-Baqarah: 282] and the verse: {And let two who possess integrity among you bare witness}[at-Talāq: 2]. Thus it demonstrates what we mentioned from these two verses that the report of the sinful is dropped and not accepted and that the testimony [Shahādah] of one who does not possess integrity is rejected, and the report [Khabar] as well- even though its significance is separated from the meaning of testimony in some respects, they are in agreement regarding the overall conditions they share since the report of the sinful is not acceptable according to Ahl ul-Ilm just as his testimony is rejected according to all of them. The Sunnah demonstrates the prohibition of transmitting abominable transmissions just as in the example from the Qur’ān regarding the prohibition of the report of the sinful.

There is a famous narration on the authority of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that: ‘Whoever relates on my authority a narration while aware that it is a lie, then he is one of the liars’. Abū Bakr ibn Abī Shaybah narrated it to us that Wakī narrated to us, on the authority of Shu’bah, on the authority of al-Hakam, on the authority of Abd ir-Rahman ibn Abī Laylā, on the authority of Samurah bin Jundab. And also Abū Bakr ibn Abī Shaybah narrated to us, that Wakī narrated to us, on the authority of Shu’bah and Sufyān, on the authority of Habīb, on the authority of Maymūn ibn Abī Shabīb, on the authority of al-Mughīrat ibn Shu’bah, they both said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said the same thing.  

واعْلَمْ وفَّقَكَ اللهُ تَعالى أنَّ الواجِبَ عَلى كُلِّ أحَدٍ عَرَفَ التَّمْيِيزِ بَيْنَ صَحِيحِ الرِّواياتِ وسَقِيمِها وثِقاتِ النّاقِلِينَ لَها مِنَ المُتَّهَمِينَ أنْ لا يَرْوِيَ مِنها إلّا ما عَرَفَ صِحَّةَ مَخارِجِهِ والسِّتارَةَ فِي ناقِلِيهِ وأنْ يَتَّقِيَ مِنها ما كانَ مِنها عَنْ أهْلِ التُّهَمِ والمُعانِدِينَ مِن أهْلِ البِدَعِ۔

والدَّلِيلُ عَلى أنَّ الَّذِي قُلْنا مِن هَذا هُوَ اللّازِمُ دُونَ ما خالَفَهُ قَوْلُ اللهُ جَلَّ ذِكْرُهُ ﴿يا أيُّها الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إنْ جاءَكُمْ فاسِقٌ بِنَبَأٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوا أنْ تُصِيبُوا قَوْمًا بِجَهالَةٍ فَتُصْبِحُوا عَلى ما فَعَلْتُمْ نادِمِينَ﴾ [الحجرات ٦] وقالَ جَلَّ ثَناؤُهُ ﴿مِمَّنْ تَرْضَوْنَ مِنَ الشُّهَداءِ﴾ [البقرة ٢٨٢] وقالَ ﷻ ﴿وأشْهِدُوا ذَوَيْ عَدْلٍ مِنكُمْ﴾ [الطلاق ٢] فَدَلَّ بِما ذَكَرْنا مِن هَذِهِ الآيِ أنَّ خَبَرَ الفاسِقِ ساقِطٌ غَيْرُ مَقْبُولٍ وأنَّ شَهادَةَ غَيْرِ العَدْلِ مَرْدُودَةٌ والخَبَرُ وإنْ فارَقَ مَعْناهُ مَعْنى الشَّهادَةِ فِي بَعْضِ الوُجُوهِ فَقَدْ يَجْتَمِعانِ فِي أعْظَمِ مَعانِيهِما إذْ كانَ خَبَرُ الفاسِقِ غَيْرَ مَقْبُولٍ عِنْدَ أهْلِ العِلْمِ كَما أنَّ شَهادَتَهُ مَرْدُودَةٌ عِنْدَ جَمِيعِهِمْ ودَلَّتِ السُّنَّةُ عَلى نَفْيِ رِوايَةِ المُنْكَرِ مِنَ الأخْبارِ كَنَحْوِ دَلالَةِ القُرْآنِ عَلى نَفْيِ خَبَرِ الفاسِقِ۔

وهُوَ الأثَرُ المَشْهُورُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ «مَن حَدَّثَ عَنِّي بِحَدِيثٍ يُرى أنَّهُ كَذِبٌ فَهُوَ أحَدُ الكاذِبِينَ» حَدَّثَنا أبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أبِي شَيْبَةَ حَدَّثَنا وكِيعٌ عَنْ شُعْبَةَ عَنِ الحَكَمِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أبِي لَيْلى عَنْ سَمُرَةَ بْنِ جُنْدَبٍ ح وحَدَّثَنا أبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أبِي شَيْبَةَ أيْضًا حَدَّثَنا وكِيعٌ عَنْ شُعْبَةَ وسُفْيانَ عَنْ حَبِيبٍ عَنْ مَيْمُونِ بْنِ أبِي شَبِيبٍ عَنِ المُغِيرَةِ بْنِ شُعْبَةَ قالا قالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ ذَلِكَ۔  

from the Prophet ﷺ a similar narration, however he did not mention the words: "Indeed a lie upon me is not like a lie upon anyone else."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِمِثْلِهِ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ إِنَّ كَذِبًا عَلَىَّ لَيْسَ كَكَذِبٍ عَلَى أَحَدٍ  

Ribʿī b. Ḥirāsh heard Alī giving a khuṭbah and he said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Do not lie upon me; indeed whoever lies upon me will enter the Fire."  

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عَلِيًّا ؓ يَخْطُبُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «لاَ تَكْذِبُوا عَلَىَّ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ يَكْذِبْ عَلَىَّ يَلِجِ النَّارَ۔»  

Indeed what prevents me from relating to you a great number of Ḥadīth is that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Whoever intends to lie upon me, then let him take his seat in the Fire."  

أَنَّهُ قَالَ إِنَّهُ لَيَمْنَعُنِي أَنْ أُحَدِّثَكُمْ حَدِيثًا كَثِيرًا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ مَنْ تَعَمَّدَ عَلَىَّ كَذِبًا فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ  

the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Whoever lies upon me intentionally, then let him take his seat in the Fire."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَىَّ مُتَعَمِّدًا فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ  

I arrived at the Masjid and al-Mughīrah, the Amīr of al-Kūfah said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying, "Indeed a lie upon me is not like a lie upon anyone else, for whoever lies upon me intentionally, then he shall take his seat in the Fire."  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ إِنَّ كَذِبًا عَلَىَّ لَيْسَ كَكَذِبٍ عَلَى أَحَدٍ فَمَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَىَّ مُتَعَمِّدًا فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ  

the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "It is enough of a lie for a man to narrate everything he hears."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «كَفَى بِالْمَرْءِ كَذِبًا أَنْ يُحَدِّثَ بِكُلِّ مَا سَمِعَ۔»  

from the Prophet ﷺ, the same as that.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِمِثْلِ ذَلِكَ  

‘Know that a man who relates everything he hears is not safe, and he can never be an Imām, as long as he narrates everything he hears’.  

اعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ يَسْلَمُ رَجُلٌ حَدَّثَ بِكُلِّ مَا سَمِعَ وَلاَ يَكُونُ إِمَامًا أَبَدًا وَهُوَ يُحَدِّثُ بِكُلِّ مَا سَمِعَ  

‘It is enough of a lie for a man that he narrates everything he hears’.  

بِحَسْبِ الْمَرْءِ مِنَ الْكَذِبِ أَنْ يُحَدِّثَ بِكُلِّ مَا سَمِعَ  

I heard Abd ar-Rahman bin Mahdī saying: ‘A man cannot be an Imām whose example is followed until he withholds from some of what he hears’.  

لاَ يَكُونُ الرَّجُلُ إِمَامًا يُقْتَدَى بِهِ حَتَّى يُمْسِكَ عَنْ بَعْضِ مَا سَمِعَ  

‘Iyās bin Mu’āwiyah asked me saying: ‘Indeed I see that you love knowledge of the Qur’ān, so recite for me a Sūrah and explain it until I can reflect on what you know’. [Sufyān] said, so I did that, and [Iyās] said to me: ‘Memorize from me what I am about to say to you- Beware of abominations in Ḥadīth for indeed rarely does anyone convey them except he lowers himself and his Ḥadīth are denied’.’  

سَأَلَنِي إِيَاسُ بْنُ مُعَاوِيَةَ فَقَالَ إِنِّي أَرَاكَ قَدْ كَلِفْتَ بِعِلْمِ الْقُرْآنِ فَاقْرَأْ عَلَىَّ سُورَةً وَفَسِّرْ حَتَّى أَنْظُرَ فِيمَا عَلِمْتَ قَالَ فَفَعَلْتُ فَقَالَ لِيَ احْفَظْ عَلَىَّ مَا أَقُولُ لَكَ إِيَّاكَ وَالشَّنَاعَةَ فِي الْحَدِيثِ فَإِنَّهُ قَلَّمَا حَمَلَهَا أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ ذَلَّ فِي نَفْسِهِ وَكُذِّبَ فِي حَدِيثِهِ  

‘It is the case that you do not relate to the people a narration which their minds cannot grasp except that it becomes a Fitnah for some of them’.  

مَا أَنْتَ بِمُحَدِّثٍ قَوْمًا حَدِيثًا لاَ تَبْلُغُهُ عُقُولُهُمْ إِلاَّ كَانَ لِبَعْضِهِمْ فِتْنَةً  

‘It is enough of a lie for a man that he narrates everything he hears’.  

«بِحَسْبِ الْمَرْءِ مِنَ الْكَذِبِ أَنْ يُحَدِّثَ بِكُلِّ مَا سَمِعَ۔»  

‘Indeed Satan will appear in the form of a man and he will come to the people, narrating to them false Ḥadīth, and they will then depart. Then a man among them will say: ‘I heard a man whose face I recognize but I do not know his name narrating [such and such]…’  

إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَيَتَمَثَّلُ فِي صُورَةِ الرَّجُلِ فَيَأْتِي الْقَوْمَ فَيُحَدِّثُهُمْ بِالْحَدِيثِ مِنَ الْكَذِبِ فَيَتَفَرَّقُونَ فَيَقُولُ الرَّجُلُ مِنْهُمْ سَمِعْتُ رَجُلاً أَعْرِفُ وَجْهَهُ وَلاَ أَدْرِي مَا اسْمُهُ يُحَدِّثُ  

‘Indeed in the sea are devils chained up, whom Sulaymān shackled and they are at the point of emerging. Then they will recite a Qur’ān upon the people.’  

إِنَّ فِي الْبَحْرِ شَيَاطِينَ مَسْجُونَةً أَوْثَقَهَا سُلَيْمَانُ يُوشِكُ أَنْ تَخْرُجَ فَتَقْرَأَ عَلَى النَّاسِ قُرْآنًا  

‘Go back to such-and-such narration‘. Then [Bushayr] returned to it and narrated it. So [Ibn Abbās] said to him: ‘Go back to such-and-such narration’. Then [Bushayr] returned to it and narrated it. Thus [Bushayr] said to him: ‘I do not know whether you know all of my Ḥadīth and you reject this one and that, or if you reject all of my Ḥadīth and know this one and that?’ Ibn Abbās said to him: ‘Indeed we would be narrated to on authority of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah upon him, at a time when one would not lie upon him, however when the people took the difficult [Munkar] and the docile [Sahīh], we abandoned listening to Ḥadīth from them’.  

جَاءَ هَذَا إِلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ يَعْنِي بُشَيْرَ بْنَ كَعْبٍ فَجَعَلَ يُحَدِّثُهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ عُدْ لِحَدِيثِ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَعَادَ لَهُ ثُمَّ حَدَّثَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ عُدْ لِحَدِيثِ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَعَادَ لَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَا أَدْرِي أَعَرَفْتَ حَدِيثِي كُلَّهُ وَأَنْكَرْتَ هَذَا أَمْ أَنْكَرْتَ حَدِيثِي كُلَّهُ وَعَرَفْتَ هَذَا فَقَالَ لَهُ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ إِنَّا كُنَّا نُحَدِّثُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذْ لَمْ يَكُنْ يُكْذَبُ عَلَيْهِ فَلَمَّا رَكِبَ النَّاسُ الصَّعْبَ وَالذَّلُولَ تَرَكْنَا الْحَدِيثَ عَنْهُ  

‘Indeed we would take Ḥadīth and they would be taken on authority of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah upon him. However if you take every difficult and docile [narration] then how far that is [from being upright]!  

إِنَّمَا كُنَّا نَحْفَظُ الْحَدِيثَ وَالْحَدِيثُ يُحْفَظُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأَمَّا إِذْ رَكِبْتُمْ كُلَّ صَعْبٍ وَذَلُولٍ فَهَيْهَاتَ  

‘The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah upon him, said…’, ‘the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah upon him, said…’. Then it seemed that Ibn Abbās was not listening to his Ḥadīth and not reflecting on them, so [Bushayr] said: ‘Oh Ibn Abbās, why is it that I see you not listening to my Ḥadīth? I narrate to you on authority of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah upon him, however you are not listening’. Ibn Abbās said: ‘Indeed once upon a time we would listen to a man saying, ‘the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah upon him, said…’ rushing towards him with our eyes and harkening towards him with our ears; then when the people took the difficult and the docile we no longer took from people except those whom we knew’.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَجَعَلَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ لاَ يَأْذَنُ لِحَدِيثِهِ وَلاَ يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ يَا ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ مَا لِي لاَ أَرَاكَ تَسْمَعُ لِحَدِيثِي أُحَدِّثُكَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَلاَ تَسْمَعُ فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ إِنَّا كُنَّا مَرَّةً إِذَا سَمِعْنَا رَجُلاً يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ ابْتَدَرَتْهُ أَبْصَارُنَا وَأَصْغَيْنَا إِلَيْهِ بِآذَانِنَا فَلَمَّا رَكِبَ النَّاسُ الصَّعْبَ وَالذَّلُولَ لَمْ نَأْخُذْ مِنَ النَّاسِ إِلاَّ مَا نَعْرِفُ  

‘I wrote to Ibn Abbās asking him to write something [pertaining to knowledge] for me and he withheld from me quite a bit, and said: ‘As [if he were] a sincere child, I will write for him something especially suited to his status withholding from him what would not benefit him’. [Ibn Abī Mulaykah] said: ‘So [Ibn Abbās] called for the judgment of Alī [bin Abī Tālib which was a book with which Alī would pass verdicts in Kuffah], and he began to write from it [with respect to the request of Ibn Abī Mulaykah] and he came upon something [not appropriate to the station of Alī regarding the science of verdicts]. So [Ibn Abbās] said: ‘By Allah, Alī did not give judgment according to this unless he was astray’.’  

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَسْأَلُهُ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ لِي كِتَابًا وَيُخْفِي عَنِّي فَقَالَ وَلَدٌ نَاصِحٌ أَنَا أَخْتَارُ لَهُ الأُمُورَ اخْتِيَارًا وَأُخْفِي عَنْهُ قَالَ فَدَعَا بِقَضَاءِ عَلِيٍّ فَجَعَلَ يَكْتُبُ مِنْهُ أَشْيَاءَ وَيَمُرُّ بِهِ الشَّىْءُ فَيَقُولُ وَاللَّهِ مَا قَضَى بِهَذَا عَلِيٌّ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ ضَلَّ  

‘A book was brought to Ibn Abbās which contained the verdicts of Alī, may Allah be pleased with him, and he effaced but a small amount,’ and Sufyān bin Uyaynah indicated with his arm [the amount].  

أُتِيَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ بِكِتَابٍ فِيهِ قَضَاءُ عَلِيٍّ ؓ فَمَحَاهُ إِلاَّ قَدْرَ وَأَشَارَ سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ بِذِرَاعِهِ  

‘When they narrated these things after Alī, may Allah be pleased with him, a man from the companions of Alī said: ‘May Allah curse them. Did they corrupt every [type of] knowledge!?’  

لَمَّا أَحْدَثُوا تِلْكَ الأَشْيَاءَ بَعْدَ عَلِيٍّ ؓ قَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ عَلِيٍّ قَاتَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ أَىَّ عِلْمٍ أَفْسَدُوا  

‘There are no Ḥadīth on authority of Alī, may Allah be pleased with him, that are confirmed except from the companions of Abd Allah bin Mas’ūd.’  

لَمْ يَكُنْ يَصْدُقُ عَلَى عَلِيٍّ ؓ فِي الْحَدِيثِ عَنْهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ  

from Messenger of Allah ﷺ that he said: "There will be in the last of my nation a people narrating to you what you nor your fathers heard, so beware of them."  

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ «سَيَكُونُ فِي آخِرِ أُمَّتِي أُنَاسٌ يُحَدِّثُونَكُمْ مَا لَمْ تَسْمَعُوا أَنْتُمْ وَلاَ آبَاؤُكُمْ فَإِيَّاكُمْ وَإِيَّاهُمْ۔»  

‘There will be in the end of time charlatan liars coming to you with narrations that you nor your fathers heard, so beware of them lest they misguide you and cause you tribulations’.’  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَكُونُ فِي آخِرِ الزَّمَانِ دَجَّالُونَ كَذَّابُونَ يَأْتُونَكُمْ مِنَ الأَحَادِيثِ بِمَا لَمْ تَسْمَعُوا أَنْتُمْ وَلاَ آبَاؤُكُمْ فَإِيَّاكُمْ وَإِيَّاهُمْ لاَ يُضِلُّونَكُمْ وَلاَ يَفْتِنُونَكُمْ  

‘Indeed this knowledge is faith, so carefully consider from whom you take your faith’.  

إِنَّ هَذَا الْعِلْمَ دِينٌ فَانْظُرُوا عَمَّنْ تَأْخُذُونَ دِينَكُمْ  

‘They would not ask about the chains of narration, and when the Fitnah occurred, they said: ‘Name for us your men’. So Ahl us-Sunnah would be regarded, and their Ḥadīth were then taken, and Ahl ul-Bi’dah would be regarded, and their Ḥadīth were not taken’.  

لَمْ يَكُونُوا يَسْأَلُونَ عَنِ الإِسْنَادِ فَلَمَّا وَقَعَتِ الْفِتْنَةُ قَالُوا سَمُّوا لَنَا رِجَالَكُمْ فَيُنْظَرُ إِلَى أَهْلِ السُّنَّةِ فَيُؤْخَذُ حَدِيثُهُمْ وَيُنْظَرُ إِلَى أَهْلِ الْبِدَعِ فَلاَ يُؤْخَذُ حَدِيثُهُمْ  

‘I came across Tāwus and said: ‘So-and-so narrated to me such-and-such’. Then he said: ‘If your companion is trustworthy, then take from him.’  

لَقِيتُ طَاوُسًا فَقُلْتُ حَدَّثَنِي فُلاَنٌ كَيْتَ وَكَيْتَ قَالَ إِنْ كَانَ صَاحِبُكَ مَلِيًّا فَخُذْ عَنْهُ  

‘So-and-so narrated to me like this-and-that’. He said: ‘If your companion is trustworthy, then take from him.’  

قُلْتُ لِطَاوُسٍ إِنَّ فُلاَنًا حَدَّثَنِي بِكَذَا وَكَذَا قَالَ إِنْ كَانَ صَاحِبُكَ مَلِيًّا فَخُذْ عَنْهُ  

‘I met one hundred [transmitters] in al-Madīnah, each of whom were reliable. Narrations were not taken from one about who it was said, ‘he is not from its people’.’  

أَدْرَكْتُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ مِائَةً كُلُّهُمْ مَأْمُونٌ مَا يُؤْخَذُ عَنْهُمُ الْحَدِيثُ يُقَالُ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَهْلِهِ  

‘There is to be no narrating on authority of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah send blessings and peace upon him, except by trustworthy narrators (Thiqāt)’.  

لاَ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِلاَّ الثِّقَاتُ  

I heard ʿAbdullāh b. al-Mubārak say: ‘The chain of narration is from the Dīn, and were it not for the chain of narration whoever wished could say what he wanted’.  

«الإِسْنَادُ مِنَ الدِّينِ وَلَوْلاَ الإِسْنَادُ لَقَالَ مَنْ شَاءَ مَا شَاءَ۔»  

Between us and the people are ‘the legs’.  

(بَيْنَنا وبَيْنَ القَوْمِ القَوائِمُ) يَعْنِي الإسْنادَ  

I said to Abd Allah bin al-Mubārak: ‘Oh Abā Abd ir-Rahman! How is the Ḥadīth which goes ‘Indeed from al-Birr after al-Birr is that you pray for your parents after you pray for yourself and you fast for them both after you fast for yourself’? So [Ibn al-Mubārak] said: ‘Oh Abā Ishāq! On whose authority is this?’ I said to him: ‘This is a Ḥadīth from Shihāb bin Khirāsh’. [Ibn al-Mubārak] said: ‘[He is] trustworthy. On whose authority [did he transmit]?’ I said: ‘on authority of al-Hajjāj bin Dīnār’. [Ibn al-Mubārak] said: ‘[He is] trustworthy. On whose authority [did he transmit]?’ I said: ‘He [al-Hajjāj said] the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah upon him, said…’ [Ibn al-Mubārak] said: ‘Oh Abū Ishāq! Indeed between al-Hajjāj bin Dīnār and the Prophet ﷺ is a wilderness in which the necks of the mounts are severed, however, there is no difference of opinion regarding charity [offered on behalf of one’s parents]’.  

قُلْتُ لِعَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ المُبارَكِ يا أبا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ: الحَدِيثُ الَّذِي جاءَ «إنَّ مِنَ البِرِّ بَعْدَ البِرِّ أنْ تُصَلِّيَ لِأبَوَيْكَ مَعَ صَلاتِكَ وتَصُومَ لَهُما مَعَ صَوْمِكَ». قالَ: فَقالَ عَبْدُ اللهِ: يا أبا إسْحاقَ عَمَّنْ هَذا؟ قالَ: قُلْتُ لَهُ: هَذا مِن حَدِيثِ شِهابِ بْنِ خِراشٍ فَقالَ: ثِقَةٌ عَمَّنْ قالَ؟ قُلْتُ: عَنِ الحَجّاجِ بْنِ دِينارٍ قالَ: ثِقَةٌ۔ عَمَّنْ قالَ؟ " قُلْتُ: قالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ. قالَ: يا أبا إسْحاقَ إنَّ بَيْنَ الحَجّاجِ بْنِ دِينارٍ وبَيْنَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ مَفاوِزَ تَنْقَطِعُ فِيها أعْناقُ المَطِيِّ ولَكِنْ لَيْسَ فِي الصَّدَقَةِ اخْتِلافٌ۔  

I heard Alī bin Shaqīq saying, I heard Abd Allah bin al-Mubārak saying in front of the people: ‘Abandon the Ḥadīth of Amr bin Thābit for indeed he would curse the Salaf [i.e., the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them]’.  

عَلى رُءُوسِ النّاسِ: «دَعُوا حَدِيثَ عَمْرِو بْنِ ثابِتٍ فَإنَّهُ كانَ يَسُبَّ السَّلَفَ»  

‘I was sitting near al-Qāsim bin Ubayd Allah and Yahyā bin Sa’īd [bin Qays al-Madanī al-Qāḍī], when Yahyā said to al-Qāsim: ‘Oh Abā Muhammad! Indeed it is gravely harmful for the likes of you to be asked about something from the affair of this Dīn, and then knowledge of it is not found with you, and no relief [in the form of an answer]’ -or- ‘…knowledge and no articulation’. So al-Qāsim said [to Yahyā bin Sa’īd]: ‘Where did that come from?’ [Yahyā] said: ‘It is because you are the son of two Imāms of guidance- a descendent of Abu Bakr and Umar.’ [al-Qāsim] said to him: ‘More harmful than that- according to whoever reflects about Allah- is to speak without knowledge or to take [Ḥadīth] from someone who is not trustworthy’. [Abū Aqīl] said: ‘So [Yahyā bin Sa’īd] was quiet and did not respond to him’.  

كُنْتُ جَالِسًا عِنْدَ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ وَيَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ فَقَالَ يَحْيَى لِلْقَاسِمِ يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ إِنَّهُ قَبِيحٌ عَلَى مِثْلِكَ عَظِيمٌ أَنْ تُسْأَلَ عَنْ شَىْءٍ مِنْ أَمْرِ هَذَا الدِّينِ فَلاَ يُوجَدَ عِنْدَكَ مِنْهُ عِلْمٌ وَلاَ فَرَجٌ أَوْ عِلْمٌ وَلاَ مَخْرَجٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْقَاسِمُ وَعَمَّ ذَاكَ قَالَ لأَنَّكَ ابْنُ إِمَامَىْ هُدًى ابْنُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ قَالَ يَقُولُ لَهُ الْقَاسِمُ أَقْبَحُ مِنْ ذَاكَ عِنْدَ مَنْ عَقَلَ عَنِ اللَّهِ أَنْ أَقُولَ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ أَوْ آخُذَ عَنْ غَيْرِ ثِقَةٍ قَالَ فَسَكَتَ فَمَا أَجَابَهُ  

‘By Allah, indeed it is a grave matter that the likes of you, a descendent of two Imāms of guidance – meaning Umar and Ibn Umar – is asked about a matter and you have no knowledge of it’. So [al-Qāsim] said: ‘By Allah, more grave than that according to Allah, and to whoever reflects about Allah, is to speak without knowledge or to report on authority of one who is not trustworthy’. [Ibn Uyaynah] said that Abū Aqīl Yahyā bin al-Mutawakkil witnessed them both when they said that.  

أَخْبَرُونِي عَنْ أَبِي عَقِيلٍ صَاحِبِ بُهَيَّةَ أَنَّ أَبْنَاءً لِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ سَأَلُوهُ عَنْ شَىْءٍ لَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَهُ فِيهِ عِلْمٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأُعْظِمُ أَنْ يَكُونَ مِثْلُكَ وَأَنْتَ ابْنُ إِمَامَىِ الْهُدَى يَعْنِي عُمَرَ وَابْنَ عُمَرَ تُسْأَلُ عَنْ أَمْرٍ لَيْسَ عِنْدَكَ فِيهِ عِلْمٌ فَقَالَ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَاللَّهِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَعِنْدَ مَنْ عَقَلَ عَنِ اللَّهِ أَنْ أَقُولَ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ أَوْ أُخْبِرَ عَنْ غَيْرِ ثِقَةٍ قَالَ وَشَهِدَهُمَا أَبُو عَقِيلٍ يَحْيَى بْنُ الْمُتَوَكِّلِ حِينَ قَالاَ ذَلِكَ  

‘I asked Sufyān ath-Thawrī , Shu’bah, Mālik, and Ibn Uyaynah about a man who is not reliable (Thabt) in Ḥadīth, and someone comes and asks me about him, and they said: ‘Inform [others] against him that he is not reliable’.’  

سَأَلْتُ سُفْيَانَ الثَّوْرِيَّ وَشُعْبَةَ وَمَالِكًا وَابْنَ عُيَيْنَةَ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ لاَ يَكُونُ ثَبْتًا فِي الْحَدِيثِ فَيَأْتِينِي الرَّجُلُ فَيَسْأَلُنِي عَنْهُ قَالُوا أَخْبِرْ عَنْهُ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ بِثَبْتٍ  

‘Ibn Awn was asked about the Ḥadīth of Shahr and he was standing at the threshold of the door, so [Ibn Awn] said: ‘Indeed they criticized Shahr, indeed they criticized Shahr’. Muslim, may Allah have mercy on him, said ‘He means- the tongues of men were busy criticizing him’.’  

سُئِلَ ابْنُ عَوْنٍ عَنْ حَدِيثٍ لِشَهْرٍ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ عَلَى أُسْكُفَّةِ الْبَابِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ شَهْرًا نَزَكُوهُ إِنَّ شَهْرًا نَزَكُوهُ قَالَ مُسْلِمٌ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ يَقُولُ أَخَذَتْهُ أَلْسِنَةُ النَّاسِ تَكَلَّمُوا فِيهِ  

Shuʿbah said, "I had met Shahr then abandoned transmitting from him."  

وَقَدْ لَقِيتُ شَهْرًا فَلَمْ أَعْتَدَّ بِهِ  

Abd Allah bin al-Mubārak said, I said to Sufyān ath-Thawrī: ‘Indeed Abbād bin Kathīr, about whose condition you are aware, when he related [narrations] he introduced a grave matter- do you believe that it should be said to the people ‘Do not take from him?’ Sufyān said: ‘Indeed!’ Abd Allah [bin al-Mubārak] said: ‘So when I was in an assembly and Abbād was mentioned there, I praised him regarding his Dīn and said: ‘Do not take from him.’ Muhammad said, Abd Allah bin Uthmān narrated to us, he said, my father said, Abd Allah bin al-Mubārak said: ‘I ended up in an assembly of Shu’bah, and he said: ‘This is Abbād bin Kathīr so be warned against him.’  

قُلْتُ لِسُفْيَانَ الثَّوْرِيِّ إِنَّ عَبَّادَ بْنَ كَثِيرٍ مَنْ تَعْرِفُ حَالَهُ وَإِذَا حَدَّثَ جَاءَ بِأَمْرٍ عَظِيمٍ فَتَرَى أَنْ أَقُولَ لِلنَّاسِ لاَ تَأْخُذُوا عَنْهُ قَالَ سُفْيَانُ بَلَى۔ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ فَكُنْتُ إِذَا كُنْتُ فِي مَجْلِسٍ ذُكِرَ فِيهِ عَبَّادٌ أَثْنَيْتُ عَلَيْهِ فِي دِينِهِ وَأَقُولُ لاَ تَأْخُذُوا عَنْهُ۔ وَقَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبِي قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ انْتَهَيْتُ إِلَى شُعْبَةَ فَقَالَ هَذَا عَبَّادُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ فَاحْذَرُوهُ۔  

Īsā bin Yūnus said: ‘I was at his door and Sufyān was with [Muhammad bin Sa’īd], then when he came out I asked [Sufyān] about him. So he informed me that he was a liar.’  

كُنْتُ عَلَى بَابِهِ وَسُفْيَانُ عِنْدَهُ فَلَمَّا خَرَجَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْهُ فَأَخْبَرَنِي أَنَّهُ كَذَّابٌ  

on authority of his father, he said: ‘We do not see the righteous more false in anything than they are regarding Ḥadīth’.  

لَمْ نَرَ الصَّالِحِينَ فِي شَىْءٍ أَكْذَبَ مِنْهُمْ فِي الْحَدِيثِ  

Ibn Abī Attāb said: ‘So Muhammad bin Yahyā bin Sa’īd al-Qattān and I met and I asked him about it and he said on authority of his father: ‘You will not see the people of good (Ahl ul-Khayr) more false in anything than they are regarding Ḥadīth.’  

لَمْ تَرَ أَهْلَ الْخَيْرِ فِي شَىْءٍ أَكْذَبَ مِنْهُمْ فِي الْحَدِيثِ  

Muslim said: ‘He was saying that falsehood flows upon their tongues although they do not intend to lie’.  

يَجْرِي الْكَذِبُ عَلَى لِسَانِهِمْ وَلاَ يَتَعَمَّدُونَ الْكَذِبَ  

‘I entered upon Ghālib bin Ubayd Allah so he began dictating to me ‘Mak’hūl narrated to me this’ and ‘Mak’hūl narrated to me that’. So he prepared to answer the call of nature and stood up, then I looked in his notebook and in it was ‘Abān narrated to me, on authority of Anas’ and ‘Abān on authority of so-and-so’. So I abandoned [listening to his Ḥadīth] and stood up [to leave]’. I heard al-Hasan bin Alī al-Hulwānī saying: ‘I saw in one of the books of Affān a Ḥadīth of Hishām Abīl-Miqdām meaning a Ḥadīth of Umar bin Abd il-Azīz. [In it was written] ‘Hishām said: ‘A man said to be Yahyā bin so-and-so narrated to me, on authority of Muhammad bin Ka’b…’ [Al-Hulwānī] said, I said to Affān: ‘They would say Hishām heard it [directly] from Muhammad bin Ka’b’. So [Affān] said: ‘Indeed Hishām was stricken [with accusations of lying] with regards to this Ḥadīth for he would say ‘Yahyā narrated to me on authority of Muhammad’, then he claimed afterwards that he heard it from Muhammad [directly]’.’  

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى غَالِبِ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ فَجَعَلَ يُمْلِي عَلَىَّ حَدَّثَنِي مَكْحُولٌ حَدَّثَنِي مَكْحُولٌ فَأَخَذَهُ الْبَوْلُ فَقَامَ فَنَظَرْتُ فِي الْكُرَّاسَةِ فَإِذَا فِيهَا حَدَّثَنِي أَبَانٌ عَنْ أَنَسٍ وَأَبَانٌ عَنْ فُلاَنٍ فَتَرَكْتُهُ وَقُمْتُ قَالَ وَسَمِعْتُ الْحَسَنَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ الْحُلْوَانِيَّ يَقُولُ رَأَيْتُ فِي كِتَابِ عَفَّانَ حَدِيثَ هِشَامٍ أَبِي الْمِقْدَامِ حَدِيثُ عُمَرَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ قَالَ هِشَامٌ حَدَّثَنِي رَجُلٌ يُقَالُ لَهُ يَحْيَى بْنُ فُلاَنٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ كَعْبٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعَفَّانَ إِنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ هِشَامٌ سَمِعَهُ مِنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ كَعْبٍ فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا ابْتُلِيَ مِنْ قِبَلِ هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ كَانَ يَقُولُ حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ ثُمَّ ادَّعَى بَعْدُ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَهُ مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ  

‘Who is this man from whom you transmit the Ḥadīth of Abd Allah bin Amr, ‘The day of Fitr is the day of prizes…’?’ [Abd Allah] said: ‘Sulaymān bin al-Hajjāj. Look at what I placed in your hands [of praise] about him’. Ibn Quhzādh said I heard Wahb bin Zam’ah mentioning about Sufyān bin Abd il-Mālik, he said, Abd Allah –meaning Ibn al-Mubārak- said: ‘I saw Rawh bin Ghutayf, the companion of blood the amount of a Dirham , and I took a seat in one of his audiences. Then I began to become ashamed for my companions to see me sitting with him while his Ḥadīth are disapproved of.’  

قُلْتُ لِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ مَنْ هَذَا الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي رَوَيْتَ عَنْهُ حَدِيثَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو يَوْمُ الْفِطْرِ يَوْمُ الْجَوَائِزِ قَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ الْحَجَّاجِ انْظُرْ مَا وَضَعْتَ فِي يَدِكَ مِنْهُ قَالَ ابْنُ قُهْزَاذَ وَسَمِعْتُ وَهْبَ بْنَ زَمْعَةَ يَذْكُرُ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ قَالَ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ يَعْنِي ابْنَ الْمُبَارَكِ رَأَيْتُ رَوْحَ بْنَ غُطَيْفٍ صَاحِبَ الدَّمِ قَدْرِ الدِّرْهَمِ وَجَلَسْتُ إِلَيْهِ مَجْلِسًا فَجَعَلْتُ أَسْتَحْيِي مِنْ أَصْحَابِي أَنْ يَرَوْنِي جَالِسًا مَعَهُ كُرْهَ حَدِيثِهِ  

‘Baqiyyah [bin al-Walīd] is truthful of tongue however he transmits [Ḥadīth] from those who approach [the Muhaddithīn, i.e. are trustworthy] and from those who turn their backs on [the Muhaddithīn, i.e. and are weak]’.  

بَقِيَّةُ صَدُوقُ اللِّسَانِ وَلَكِنَّهُ يَأْخُذُ عَمَّنْ أَقْبَلَ وَأَدْبَرَ  

‘al-Hārith al-A’war ul-Hamdānī narrated to me, and he is a liar’.  

حَدَّثَنِي الْحَارِثُ الأَعْوَرُ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ وَكَانَ كَذَّابًا