[2] Bukhari says...

[2] Bukhari says: “There is none among our companions (tradition scholars) but that he or she is needful of Akrama.” [3] It is surprising Bukhari relies on Akrama as well as those who like him, whose faith he doubts but he abstains from traditions of the Holy Progeny who are equals to the Holy Quran. Maqatil bin Sulaiman Maqatil bin Sulaiman bin Bashir Azadi Khorasani like his friend Akrama was having a weak faith and biographers have mentioned this about him thus: 1 – He was a false reporter.

Nasai says: “Maqatil reported false statements” [4] and Waki has also said: “And Ishaq Ibrahim Hanzali says: ‘Khorasan has produced three characters unequalled in lying and innovation. They are Jaham, Maqatil and Umar bin Sabah.’” And Kharijah bin Musab said: “In our view Jaham and Maqatil are two sinners and transgressors.” [5] Thus due to his proven falsehood it is not correct to trust his reports and his tradition is of no value in proving anything.

2 – He was having doubts in faith and had belief of Tashbih. [6] Ibn Hayyan says: “Maqatil obtained the knowledge of Quran through Jews and Christians according to what their books taught. He used to compare the Almighty Allah to created things and creatures and he resorted to falsehood in narrating traditions.” [7] Some pious people considered shedding his blood lawful.

Kharijah says: “I do not consider lawful shedding blood of Jews and Zimmis**[8]** but if I gain dominance over Maqatil bin Sulaiman and none sees us, I would kill him.” [9] 3 – Maqatil was well known for his animosity and hatred towards Amirul Momineen (‘a) and he always associated the merits of Imam (‘a) to other characters.

It is related from Imam (‘a) that he said: “Ask me before you are deprived of me.” Maqatil also tried to be like this and he claimed that he could provide information of all that is between the sky and the depths of the earth.

So a [1] Tahdhibut Tahdhib 7/271 [2] Mizanul Etedal 3/93 [3] Tahdhibut Tahdhib 7/271 [4] Mizanul Etedal 4/173 [5] Tahdhibut Tahdhib 10/281 [6] Comparison of Allah with other things [7] Tahdhibut Tahdhib Pg.284, Mizanul Etedal 4/175 [8] Non-Muslim protected people [9] Tahdhibut Tahdhib , Pg.281 person stood up and asked him to inform about the dwelling of the ant.