Home » Hanafi Fiqh » Askimam.org » People have said that there are fabricated hadiths in ihya ulum ud din. Is this true?

People have said that there are fabricated hadiths in ihya ulum ud din. Is this true?

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Askimam.org

People say Imam Ghazzali fabricated them to support sufism. I find that hard to believe. They also say that he uses weak hadith. Please explain the role of weak hadith. Should we use them or not??

Answer

The fact that fabricated Ahaadith are quoted in Ihya Ulumidddin cannot be
refuted. Imam Muhammad Murtadha al-Zabeedi (RA) – the famous and renown
commentator of ‘Ihya’ has mentioned the following in the forward of his
commentary on ‘Ihya’, ‘Verily the Ahaadith mentioned by the author (Imaam
Ghazaaly RA) vary between those that are unanimously accepted, Sahih
(authentic) and Hasan (sound) . and of them are some that are weak and some
a fabrication though very few.’ (Itihaafu saadatil muttaqeen vol.1 pg.38;
Ilmiyyah)

For quotations of other Ulama which support the above, refer to the above
mentioned reference.

However, the blasphemous accusation of Imaam Ghazzaaly (RA) having
fabricated those Ahaadith is definitely incorrect. The proof for this is
that these Ahaadith were prevalent even before Imaam Ghazzaaly (RA) was
born. The reason for Imaam Ghazzaaly (RA) having included such Ahaadith in
his most beneficial work, is the fact that he did know of their fabrication.
Shaykh Abdul-Fattaah Abu Ghuddah (RA) states in ‘Atta’aleeqaatul Haafilah’
pg.118, ‘Imaam Ghazzaaly (RA) was unique in regards to the knowledge of
Jurisprudence, its principles, Tasawwuf, beliefs, philosophy and others
except for the knowledge of Hadith, for verily he did not spare time to
master it. And he has mentioned regarding himself in his book, ‘Qaanoonut ta
‘aweel’ (pg.16), ‘And my knowledge of Hadith is but scanty.’

Shaykh Abdul Fattaah further states another reason for this, ‘Perhaps his
excuse for doing that (i.e. including fabrications in Ihyaa) is that he
relied on the book, ‘Qootul Quloob’ of Abu Taalib Makki and he mentioned
those Ahaadith therefrom.’ (Ibid)

As for the role of weak Ahaadith, Imaam Sakhawi (RA) has mentioned in his
book, ‘Al-Qawlul Badee’ (pg.473): ‘Regarding weak narrations there are 3
views, a) It cannot be accepted at all, b) It will be accepted if there are
no other Ahaadith to substantiate that particular chapter / topic, and c) It
will be accepted for virtues of deeds and not for the different laws in
Shari’ah.’ Imam Sakhawi further states: ‘And this (third view) is the view
of the majority.

Moulana Abdul Hayy Laknawi (RA) further comments regarding the credibility
of these 3 views in his book, ‘Al-ajwibatul faadhilah’ (pg.53). He says
regarding the first view, ‘It is a weak view.’ And regarding the second
view, ‘It is an absurd exploitation.’ And regarding the third view, ‘It is
the straight path.’

So, the answer to your question is, ‘Yes’ a weak Hadith can be used, but
only to ascertain a virtue for a specific deed. However, even in doing so
there are some conditions that apply. (Refer al-Qawlul Badee and
Al-Ajwibatul Faadhila pgs.40-41)

and Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

Moulana Muhammad ibn Moulana Haroon Abbassommar
FACULTY OF SPECIALTY IN HADITH

CHECKED AND APPROVED: Mufti Ebrahim Desai

Original Source Link

This answer was collected from Askimam.org, which is operated under the supervision of Mufti Ebrahim Desai from South Africa.

Read answers with similar topics: