Question

There are a number of youth online who are weakening all kinds of narrations on the basis that a narrator is Saduq, but makes mistakes, or has conjecture according to ibn Hajar. When a narrator is regarded as having a weak memory, or makes mistakes, does this render his tradition as weak?

Answer

Firstly, it is incorrect for people to delve into matters that they are unqualified for.

We are repeatedly exhorted in the Quran and Hadith to refer to those who are qualified in each field.

As far as your question is concerned, one should understand that the field of analysing Hadiths and their narrators is prone to difference of opinion. (See here for a detailed discussion).

Therefore, it is possible for some scholars to deem a narrator as weak, while others afford him a degree of acceptance.

Nevertheless, in the case in question (saduqun yukhti-u, or saduqun yahimu or saduqun lahu awham), such a narrator’s Hadiths can be sound (hasan), depending on the nature of the Hadith’s content and its topic of discussion.

(Refer: Shaykh ‘Awwamah’s footnotes on Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 723, 6028 and 6934)

When a narrator is declared as having a weak memory outright (sayyiul hifz), his Hadiths will generally be declared as weak.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

Answered by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar