Question
What is the status of the narrator Abu Balj?
Answer
The Muhaddithun have differed regarding the credibility of Abu Balj Yahya ibn Sulaym Al Fazari.
Imams Abu Hatim Nasai, Daraqutni (rahimahumallah) and others have declared him credible. Imam Bukhari has criticised this narrator. Imam Ibn Hibban (rahimahullah) has declared him credible but states that he errs. ‘Allamah Dhahabi (rahimahullah) has also cited some of his unreliable narrations.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has stated that he is truthful (saduq) but he occasionally errs (صدوق ربما أخطأ). ‘Allamah ‘Iraqi (rahimahullah) has also authenticated chain that he has appeared in.
His Hadiths could therefore be declared sound unless it is proven that he has erred.
(Refer: Tahdhibul Kamal, vol. 33 pg. 162-163, number: 7269, Tahdhibut Tahdhib, vol. 12 pg. 47, Taqribut Tahdhib: 8003, Mizanul I’itidal, vol. 5 pg. 123, number: 9011, Al Kashif with footnotes of Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah hafizahullah, number: 6550, At Taqyid Wal Idah, vol. 2 pg. 921. Also see: Badhlul Ma’un of Hafiz Ibn Hajar, pg. 117-118)
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