Question

What does Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) mean when he puts the condition for مستخرج, in the following statement (related by his student):

و شرطه أن لا يصل إلى شيخ أبعد حتى يفقد سندا يوصله إلى الأقرب إلا لعذر من علو أو زيادة مهمة

Answer

This quote from Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) is cited in Fathul Bari as well as Tadribur Rawi, among other books

Since the purpose of a Mustakhraj is to be able to cite the very same Hadiths of a particular Hadith collection with one’s own chains that link up with the chains of that collection, it is therefore best that the author of the Mustakhraj ensures that his chain joins with the original chain at the first possible point.

For example, Imam Abu ‘Awanah has a famous Mustakhraj on Sahih Muslim. In this book he would quote the Hadiths of Sahih Muslim, via his own chains that avoid going through Imam Muslim himself (since that defeats the purpose of a Mustakhraj).

If Imam Muslim’s (rahimahullah) chain was as follows:

Ibn Abi Shaybah, from Ghundar, from Shu’bah, from Qatadah, from Sayyiduna Anas (radiyallahu ‘anhu).

Imam Abu ‘Awanah (rahimahullah) would have to select that chain for his mustakhraj [if available] that joins with Ibn Abi Shaybah. If he didn’t have a chain like that, then it should be one that links with Ghundar, and so on.

This is so that the Mustakhrij is able to relate it in a manner that is as close as possible to the version of the original.

Also see here.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar