What is the status of the narrator Al Hakam ibn Abdillah Al-Balkhi?
Are his narrations from Imam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) acceptable?
Answer
Al Hakam ibn Abdillah Al-Balkhi was the student of Imam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah).
‘Allamah Dhahabi (rahimahullah) has described him to be a senior who was very knowledgeable. The people of his town learnt Fiqh from him. Imam ‘Abdullah ibn Al Mubarak (rahimahullah) would respect and honour him due to his piety and knowledge.
However, when it came to memorising and retaining Hadith, he was weak. Imams Ibn Ma’in, Bukhari, Nasai, Ahmad and Ibn ‘Adiy have declared him weak.
Some Muhaddithun were of the opinion that he was very weak.
(Refer: Mizanul I’tidal, vol. 1 pg. 526 and Lisanul Mizan, vol. 3 pg. 246)
As Hafiz Dhahabi (rahimahullah) has mentioned, he was a Faqih. His memory would have not affected his Fiqh that he reported from Imam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar