Question

Could you please comment on the status of the Hadith narrator: ‘Abdullah ibn Lahi’ah

Answer

‘Abdullah ibn Lahi’ah (rahimahullah) is a narrator who appears in the famous Hadith books.

The final verdict on him is that he was sound, but became weak later in his life after his books burned. Such a narrator is labelled a Mukhtalit; one who lost his memory later in his life.

The general rule for such a narrator is that the Hadiths that he reported after losing his memory will be rejected. The same rule will be applied to Ibn Lahi’ah (rahimahullah). Hence, his Hadiths will only be judged as sound (hasan) if they were proven to be reported prior to his ikhtilat.

There is an extensive list of those students of Ibn Lahi’ah whose reports from him are confirmed to be before he lost his memory. Their narrations from him will be accepted.

Refer to: Tahdhibut tahdhib, vol. 5, pg. 373-379 and Taqribut tahdhib, 3563 with the footnotes of Shaykh ‘Awwamah, as well as his footnotes on Al-Kashif, number: 2934.

Note: The above is merely an answer to the question provided. One who is unqualified, should not seek to apply this and/or draw conclusions on related issues independently.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

Answered by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar