His Musannaf is a prominent hadith source among Sunni ‘ulama ...

His Musannaf is a prominent hadith source among Sunni ‘ulama , and he is a major narrator in Sahih al-Bukhari . So, ordinarily, Shaykh al-Arnaut should have absolutely no problem with the sanad . However, he does: إسناده ضعيف Its chain is dha’if (weak). ^6 He gives no excuse at all, apparently because there is none! Or, is it that he has problem with ‘Abd Allah, his father Ahmad b. Hanbal (d. 241 H) or ‘Abd al-Razzaq (d. 211 H)?

Elsewhere in the same Musnad , this is how al-Arnaut comments about another chain of theirs: حدثنا عبد الله حدثني أبى ثنا عبد الرزاق قال ثنا سفيان عن الأعمش عن أبى وائل عن أم سلمة.... إسناده صحيح على شرط الشيخين ‘Abd Allah – my father (Ahmad b. Hanbal) – ‘Abd al-Razzaq – Sufyan – al-A’mash – Abu Wail – Umm Salamah.... Its chain is sahih upon the standard of the two Shaykhs (i.e.

al-Bukhari and Muslim).[^7] So, even Shaykh al-Arnaut is well-aware that the chain of Hadith al-Wilayah in Musnad Ahmad is reliable. Yet, he does what he does! Or, wait a minute! Is there not a break in the chain between ‘Abd al-Razzaq and Ja’far? It is one thing for all the narrators of a chain to be trustworthy and truthful. It is another for it to be well-connected, such that each narrator transmits from the one he really met. If there is a break in the chain, then it is indeed weak.

Shaykh al-Arnaut has authenticated the transmission from ‘Abd Allah – Ahmad b. Hanbal – ‘Abd al-Razzaq. He has equally authenticated the transmission from Ja’far – Yazid – Mutarrif. As such, there is only the question of the link between ‘Abd al-Razzaq and Ja’far. In the riwayah of Hadith al-Wilayah in Musnad Ahmad above, two people have narrated from Ja’far: ‘Abd al-Razzaq and ‘Affan al-Ma’ni. If only one of them is reliable and is fully connected to Ja’far, then the entire sanad is impeccable.

But, look at this chain and al-Arnaut’s comment on it: حدثنا عبد الله حدثني أبي ثنا عفان ثنا جعفر بن سليمان ثنا ثابت عن أنس بن مالك .... إسناده صحيح على شرط مسلم رجاله ثقات ‘Abd Allah – my father (Ahmad b. Hanbal) – ‘Affan – Ja’far b. Sulayman – Thabit – Anas b. Malik ....

Its chain is sahih upon the standard of (Imam) Muslim, its narrators are trustworthy .[^8] Similarly, Shaykh al-Arnaut says about another chain: حدثنا عبد الله حدثني أبي ثنا عبد الرزاق ثنا جعفر بن سليمان قال حدثني ثابت البناني عن أنس بن مالك ..... إسناده صحيح على شرط مسلم , رجاله ثقات ‘Abd Allah – my father (Ahmad b. Hanbal) – ‘Abd al-Razzaq – Ja’far b. Sulayman – Thabit al-Banani – Anas b. Malik ....