Please provide reference and the Arabic Text of the saying or a similar attributed to Imam Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah (rahimahullah):
‘Hadith are a source of deviation if not taken from its people’
Answer:
Imam Ibn Abi Zayd Al Qayrawani (rahimahullah) has cited this statement of Imam Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah (rahimahullah).
(Kitabul Jami’, pg. 118. Also see Atharul Hadith of Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah -hafizahullah- pg. 63)
The Arabic text is as follows:
الحديث مضلّة إلا للفقهاء
Hadith is a source of deviation except for the Jurists [As they only know the interpretation and which Hadiths are suitable for practice]
Imam Malik and Imam ‘Abdullah ibn Wahb Al Misri (rahimahumallah) have also said a similar statement.
(See: Atharul Hadith of Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah, pg. 63, 83)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar