Question

With regards to the Hadith of spending generously on the day of ‘Ashura, some senior Muhaddithun of the past have dismissed the authenticity of the narration. How would we answer these objections?

Answer

In cases like these, one would have to say that those who refuted its authenticity were probably unaware of the reliable chains that exist for this Hadith.

This is a common phenomenon. Another example would be the Hadith of Salatut Tasbeeh. (See Nukat of Ibn Hajar).

In fact, my Honourable teacher, Al-Muhaddith Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah (may Allah protect him) has provided several examples of this kind in his masterpiece: Atharul Hadith, pgs. 182-186.
These are examples of certain senior Scholars being unaware of reliable chains whilst others were indeed aware of them.
The accepted rule among the scholars is:

من علم حجة على من لا يعلم

“Those who know are preferred over those who don’t.”

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best

Answered by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar