What is the status of the narrator, ‘Muhammad ibn ‘Ajlan’?
Answer
There is a difference of opinion regarding the credibility of this narrator.
Imams Ahmad, Shu’bah, Ibn ‘Uyaynah, Abu Hatim, Abu Zur’ah, ‘Ijli, Nasai (rahimahumullah) have declared him reliable. Other Muhaddithun have declared him weak due to a weak memory.
Imam Yahya Al Qattan has declared the Hadiths he reports from Nafi’ specifically, weak (mudtarib). Hafiz Ibn Hajar Al ‘Asqalani (rahimahullah) declares him ‘saduq’ i.e. His Hadiths will be sound, however, his reports from Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) are problematic.
(Tahdhibul Kamal, vol. 26 pg. 101-108, Tahdhibut Tahdhib, vol. 9 pg. 341, Taqribut Tahdhib, 6136 and Mizanul I’tidal, vol. 4 pg. 203)
Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah (hafizahullah) has explained this statement of Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) and clarified that even his reports from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) are acceptable.
(Refer: Footnotes on Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 1511. Also see, hadith: 25930)
Note: The above is merely an answer to the question provided. One who is unqualified, should not seek to apply this and/or draw conclusions on related issues independently.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar