Question

What is meant by ‘riwayatan’ in the following Hadith in Sahih Muslim under the chapter of fasting:

Qala Abu Bakr ‘riwayatan‘ wa qala ‘Amrun ‘yablughu bihin Nabiyya sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam‘

 

Answer

Imam Muslim rahimahullah has reported this Hadith from three of his teachers; Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah, ‘Amr an Naqid and Zuhayr ibn Harb (rahimahumullah).

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 1150)

Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah (rahimahullah) used the words ‘riwayatan‘ after saying ‘from Abu Hurayrah.’
‘Amr An Naqid (rahimahullah) used the words ‘yablughu bihin Nabiyya sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam‘
and Zuhayr ibn Harb (rahimahumullah) used the words ‘anin Nabiyyi sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam‘

All of the above mean that Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu anhu) heard/reports this Hadith from Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), although ‘riwayatan‘ is not as explicit as the other two. It is therefore called ‘مرفوع حكما’.

(Tadribur Rawi, vol. 3 pg. 117-119)

 

Imam Muslim (rahimahullah) explained which words each teacher used. This displays how particular and accurate the Muhaddithun were in transmission.

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

 

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

 

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar