Question 21:
Shaikh al-Albaanee – may Allah reward him with good – may bring a hadeeth with regards to the nature of an issue. So, if I researched in the books of fiqh from the past and I found the hadeeth to be weak and I found it not to be acted upon in the view of the fuqahaa’ of the past. Shaikh Naasir authenticates the hadeeth. So some of the students of knowledge argue and they say: “Why do you weaken this and the hadeeth is in Saheeh il-Jaami’ by al-Albaanee,” then the person is embarassed. So, what do you say regarding that?

Answer:
Also a good question. Shaikh Naasir ud-Deen al-Albaanee, may Allah the Exalted preserve him – is trustworthy (thiqah) according to us. So, the researcher who is able to research for himself, then no observer is like whoever heard and the report (khabar) is not like the observation (mu’aayanah). And the o­ne who is not able to research and accepts the statement of Shaikh al-Albaanee with regards to authentication (tasheeh) and weakening (tad’eef) (of ahaadeeth), then this o­ne, there is nothing upon him, inshaa’allah, because Allah, subhaanahu wa ta’aalaa, says in His Noble Book,

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن جَاءكُمْ فَاسِقٌ بِنَبَأٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوا أَن تُصِيبُوا قَوْمًا بِجَهَالَةٍ فَتُصْبِحُوا عَلَى مَا فَعَلْتُمْ نَادِمِينَ

“O you who believe! If a sinner (faasiq) came to you with news, then seek to ascertain incase you harm a people out of ignorance then become regretful for what you have done.” (49:6).

So, Shaikh Naasir is trustworthy according to us, and the o­ne who takes his authentification and his weakening (of ahaadeeth), we do not rebuke him, under any circumstances, even if he differred with us. However, he should research and it is more cautious and more important. And he is the o­ne who hopes that Allah benefits Islam and the Muslims with it (i.e., his research).

As for when the speaker said to you: “This is authenticated by the Shaikh (al-Albaanee),” and you find him not qualified for research, then leave this companion of yours and do not disagree, you and him. Leave him and research the hadeeth and act by what you see as the truth. You will not be the first individual, you and your companion, of those who differred regarding the authentification of the hadeeth and its weakening, or regarding the strengthening (tawtheeq) of a man and his weakening (tad’eef). And it is not befitting that this be a reason for division, nor differing, nor dissention.

And we do not claim that all of the people are muhadditheen. So whoever takes whatever is authenticated or weaked by the Shaikh, we are not able to rebuke him, nor do we say anything, such that even if he differed from what we held. And the point is that the first scholars differed regarding the authentification and weakening (of hadeeths) and they also differed regarding the strengthening (tawtheeq) and disparagement (tajreeh) (of men). So the matter is easy, inshaa’allah, regarding this.