Question

1. Is it true that if a narrator of a Hadith said one lie in his life then all the Hadiths that he narrates are considered as a fabrications?

2. What if the narrator openly makes tawbah afterwards? Would his narration still be considered Mawdu’ (fabrication)?

3. If so doesn’t that mean that some fabricated Hadith could be true?

Answer

1. Yes. All his narrations will be rejected if he fabricates even just one Hadith.

2. Then too his narrations will be rejected. Even if his tawbah was sincere, it has no bearing on his narrations anymore. This is the view of the senior Muhaddithun, like Imam Ahmad (rahimahullah), Imam Ibn Ma’in (rahimahullah) and others.

3. That definitely is a possibility. However, despite that rare possibility, the Muhaddithun have (like in all such dual possibilities) opted for the side of caution.

References for all of the above:

Muqaddimah Ibnus Salah, pg. 116, Tadribur Rawi, vol. 1, pg. 553-556 , Sharhut Taqrib, pg. 203 and Fathul Mughith, vol. 2, pg. 235-242.

Note: The above ruling, as strict as it may be seem, was enforced by the Hadith masters, to efficiently discourage people from this wicked deed.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

Answered by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar