[9] Third Hadith on authenticity of Ahadith...

[9] Third Hadith on authenticity of Ahadith: وعن محمد بن يحيى ، عن عبدالله بن محمد ، عن علي ابن الحكم ، عن أبان بن عثمان ، عن عبدالله بن أبي يعفور ، قال : وحدثني الحسين بن أبي العلاء ، أنه حضر ابن أبي يعفور في هذا المجلس ، قال : سألت أبا عبدالله ( عليه السلام ) عن اختلاف الحديث ، يرويه من نثق به ، ومنهم من لا نثق به ، قال : إذا ورد عليكم حديث فوجدتم له شاهدا من كتاب الله أو من قول رسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) ، وإلا فالذي جاءكم به أولى به .

And from Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Abdullah Bin Muhammad, from Ali Ibn Al Hakam, from Aban Bin Usman, from Abdullah Bin Abu Ya’four who said that it was narrated to him from Al Husayn Bin Abu Al A’la, who was present with Ibn Abu Ya’four in this gathering, says: ‘I asked Abu Abd Allah -asws about the differences in Hadith, narrated from one whom we trust and from those whom we do not trust’.

He -asws said: ‘ If a Hadith is referred to you and you find a witness for it from the Book of Allah -azwj or from the statements of the Messenger of Allah -saww , then its authentic , otherwise give it back to the one who brought it’.

[10] Hence, one can confirm the authenticity of a Hadith by verifying it either from the Quran (if one has the knowledge of Quran with respect to the earlier Hadith – ‘نَاسِخاً وَ مَنْسُوخاً وَ عَامّاً وَ خَاصّاً وَ مُحْكَماً وَ مُتَشَابِهاً) or from the words of Rasool-Allah -saww (other Ahadith). What about gradings of Ahadith (Sahih, Dhaeef, Mawdu…..)?

First Non-Shia scholars categorised and graded Ahadith, a similar approach was also later embraced by Shia scholars – by borrowing their ‘usool’ (principles) – that is the Biographical evaluation ( `ilm ad-diraya , `ilm ar-rijal ): i.e., a Hadith is characterised either Sahih, Hasan, Dhaeef,….employing these principles. So, what is the basis of Ahadith grading?

The criteria of grading Ahadith was based on ‘ Tafseer Bil Ra’yi’ (interpretation by opinion), of the following Quranic Verse: يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنْ جَاءَكُمْ فَاسِقٌ بِنَبَإٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوا أَنْ تُصِيبُوا قَوْمًا بِجَهَالَةٍ فَتُصْبِحُوا عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلْتُمْ نَادِمِينَ {649:} O you who believe!

If a transgressor comes to you with news, then investigate, lest you harm a people in ignorance, and you would become remorseful upon what you have done [49:6] In the Holy Verse [49:6] , Allah -azwj has already Said that if a transgressor brings a piece of news, then investigate the news – as it could either be correct or false ‘news’.

✦ ✦ ✦