Yathi’...

Yathi’: He narrated from Abu Bakr and Abu Dharr, and only Abu Ishaq narrated from him. He has been graded thiqah (trustworthy) .[^11] Al-Hafiz (d. 852 H) also states: زيد بن يثيع … الهمداني الكوفي ثقة مخضرم Zayd b. Yathi’.... al-Hamadani al-Kufi: Thiqah (trustworthy) .

He witnessed both the Jahiliyyah and the Islamic era.[^12] In simple summary, these are the conclusions so far from our investigations in this chapter: Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah’s suggestion that reports of the Prophet’s implementation of Hadith al-Ada has been narrated by only Zayd b. Yathi’ is nothing but a complete fallacy. His claims that Zayd b. Yathi’ was accused in narrations and that he was attributed to al-rafdh are both patent untruths, with absolutely no basis. Rather, Zayd b.

Yathi’ in reality narrated ahadith from Abu Bakr, and is thiqah (trustworthy) according to several top-ranking Sunni muhadithun ! The most interesting part, however, is that Zayd b. Yathi’ actually also narrated about the Messenger’s implementation of Hadith al-Ada from two grand Sahabis - Abu Bakr and ‘Ali – with reliable chains! It is noteworthy that even without any report from Zayd b. Yathi’, the incident is reliably transmitted nonetheless, through other routes.

Therefore, its authenticity is not dependent in any way upon Zayd b. Yathi’ or his reports. But, the ahadith of Zayd b. Yathi’ provide additional grounds of authenticity for that crucial episode in Islamic history. Zayd b. Yathi’s hadith from Abu Bakr is documented by Imam Ahmad b. Hanbal (d. 241 H): حدثنا عبد الله قال حدثني أبي قال ثنا وكيع قال قال إسرائيل قال أبو إسحاق عن زيد بن يثيع عن أبي بكر: أن النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم بعثه ببراءة لأهل مكة ....

فسار بها ثلاثا ثم قال لعلي رضي الله تعالى عنه ألحقه فرد علي أبا بكر وبلغها أنت قال ففعل قال فلما قدم على النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم أبو بكر بكى قال يا رسول الله حدث في شيء قال ما حدث فيك إلا خير ولكن أمرت أن لا يبلغه إلا أنا أو رجل مني ‘Abd Allah – my father (Ahmad b. Hanbal) – Waki’ – Israil – Abu Ishaq – Zayd b. Yathi’ – Abu Bakr: The Prophet, peace be upon him, sent me with Barat to the people of Makkah.... I journeyed with it for three days.

Then, he (the Prophet) said to ‘Ali, may Allah the Almighty be pleased with him, “Meet him, and ask Abu Bakr to return to me, and convey it yourself”. So, he did so. When I got to the Prophet, peace be upon him, I wept and said, “O Messenger of Allah, has something happened about me”? He replied, “Nothing happened about you except a good thing.