What is the status of the narrator ‘Imran ibn Dawar Al ‘Ammi Abul ‘Awwam Al Qattan? Is he reliable?
Answer
The Muhaddithun have differed with regards to the reliability of this narrator.
Imam Ahmad ibn Hambal (rahimahullah) has accepted him to be adequate (أرجو ان يكون صالح الحديث). Imam Ibn ‘Adiy (rahimahullah) has also expressed a similar view (هو ممن يكتب حديثه). Imams ‘Ijli and Ibn Hibban (rahimahumallah) have accepted him to be reliable (ثقة) and Imam Hakim (rahimahullah) has declared him acceptable (صدوق).
However, other Muhaddithun like Imam Yahya ibn Ma’in, Imam Nasai and Imam Abu Dawud (rahimahumullah) have declared him weak.
(Refer: Tahdhibul Kamal, vol. 22 pg. 328, Tahdhibut Tahdhib, vol. 8 pg. 130 and Mizanul I’tidal, vol. 3 pg. 246, number: 5948)
Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has summed up his condition in Taqribut Tahdhib by saying, صدوق يهم, i.e. he is acceptable but [unintentionally] errs occasionally. [Those Hadiths in which he has erred will not be acceptable, whilst some of his Hadiths may be declared sound (hasan)].
(Taqribut Tahdhib, 5154)
One should also be wary of the fact that he was accused of holding some incorrect beliefs [The belief of the خوارج] as pointed out by the Muhaddithun.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar