Question
Who was Imam Waki’ (rahimahullah)? If he were to grade a narrator as reliable (thiqah), would his grading be accepted?
Answer
Imam Waki’ ibn Jarrah (rahimahullah) was a great Muhaddith of Iraq. He was born in either the year 128 A.H. or 129 A.H. and passed away in the year 197 A.H.
He acquired Hadith from great Aimmah and Muhaddithun such as: Hisham ibn ‘Urwah, Sulayman Al-A’amash, Ibn Jurayj, Al-Awzai’, and others (rahimahumullah).
He had many students that became great Aimmah and Muhaddithun such as: ‘Abdullah ibn Mubarak, ‘Abdurrahman ibn Mahdi, Ahmad ibn Hambal, Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah, and others (rahimahumullah).
(Refer: Siyaru A’alamin Nubala, vol. 9 pg. 140 onward)
If he were to grade a narrator, his grading would indeed be considered. Imam Dhahabi (rahimahullah) has listed his name among those Muhaddithun whose statements regarding narrators [i.e Jarh and Ta’dil] will be relied upon and considered.
(Dhikru Man Yu’tamadu Qawluhu fil Jarhi wat Ta’dil; Arba’u Rasail fi ‘Ulumil Hadith of Shaykh ‘Abdul Fattah Abu Ghuddah, pg. 177)
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 Farhan Shariff
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar