In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Careful Deliberation and Sound Verification Needed to Repel Rumours and Ambiguities!

Umar [may Allaah be pleased with him] narrated: I and my Ansari neighbour from Bani Umaiyah Bin Zaid – who used to live at `Awali Al-Medina – used to visit the Prophet (ﷺ) by turns. He used to go one day and I another day. When I went I used to bring the news of that day regarding the Divine Revelation and other things, and when he went, he used to do the same for me. Once my Ansari friend, in his turn (on returning from the Prophet), knocked violently at my door and asked if I was there.” I became horrified and came out to him. He said, “Today a great thing has happened”. I then went to Hafsa and saw her weeping. I asked her, “Did Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) divorce you all?” She replied, “I do not know.” Then, I entered upon the Prophet (ﷺ) and said while standing, “Have you divorced your wives?” The Prophet (ﷺ) replied in the negative. On that I said, “Allahu-Akbar (Allah is Greater).” [Saheeh al-Bukhaari. Number 89]

Reminder from this hadith: The student should not neglect affairs related to his livelihood so that he utilises it to aid his studies and other affairs, alongside being determined to ask about what he missed during his absence due to what is known regarding Umar [may Allaah be pleased with him] that he used to trade (a). In this is that (one of the conditions to validate) a Tawaatur (b) is that its transmission must be based on Amrun Mahsoos (something concrete, truly existent, heard, seen) and not based on rumours which none knows who started it. (1)

Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: Verification is one of the most important affairs, if not the most important. Verifying what is transmitted from others is an important affair, because sometimes the transmitters harbour evil intentions, so they transmit – intentionally and deliberately – that which will tarnish the reputation of the one they transmit from. And sometimes they do not harbour an evil intention, but they understand something in a manner that is opposite to what is intended by it. Therefore, it is obligatory to verify. So, when the proof (or sound source) of the transmission is established, then the one from whom the statement was transmitted is engaged in a discussion before a judgement is passed as to whether it is a mistake or not. That is because it may become clear to you – by way of discussion – that the one from whom the statement was transmitted is correct. And if not, then what is known is that if a person were to immediately pass a judgement merely based on what he hears, he will transmit things (i.e. statements, views, opinions etc) from some of the scholars – those considered to be the beacons of (Sharee’ah) knowledge – that which the souls will dislike; but when one verifies, contemplates and establishes contact with this Shaikh, the affair will become clarified.  (2)

Footnote a: Established from many narrators at every level of the chain of transmission that it is impossible for them to have agreed upon a lie.

Footnote b: Seeking Knowledge and Provision

Abu-Bakr Al-Marwazee said: I heard Abu Abdillaah [Imaam Ahmad] saying, “Indeed I ordered them (i.e. my children) to go to the market and engage in trade”. (3)

Muhammad Ibn Moosaa said: I heard Ali Bin Ja-far saying: “My father took me along with him to Abu Abdillaah [Imaam Ahmad (rahimahullaah)] and said: “O Abu Abdillaah! This is my son.” So he supplicated for me and said to my father: “Order him to go to the market (for trade) and keep him away from his (idle or bad) companions.” (4)

Abu Bakr Al-Marroodhee narrated to us, saying: I said to Abu Abdillaah (i.e. Imaam Ahmad): ”For what (reason) did Sufyaan Ath-Thawri depart to Yemen?” He said: ”He departed for trade and to meet Ma’mar. They (i.e. the people) said: He (Sufyaan) had a hundred Deenaar, but seventy (Deenaar) is what is correct.” (5)

Abdul Malik Al-Maymoonee reported that Abu Abdillaah [Imaam Ahmad] said: A man said to Sariy Bin Yahyah (a student of the Taa’bi’een): “You travel on the sea in search of the dunyah (provision)?! He (Sari) said: “I want to be free from your (state of being) in need of the people.” (6)

Zaheer Ibn Saaleh Ibn Ahmad Bin Hanbal said: I heard my father saying: He used to even take a carpenter’s tool and depart to the houses of the people to carry out some work with his hands. (7)

Yoosuf Ibn Muslim said: I heard Ali Ibn Bakkaar saying: Ibraaheem Bin Adham used to offer himself for employment. Sulaymaan Al-Khawwaas used to glean (i.e. employed as a gatherer of the grain left over after harvest). (8)

Ishaq Ibn Daawud said: “I heard Al-Hasan Ibnul Waqee saying: It is more beloved to me that I (work to) earn two hundred miligrams (of something in weight) than someone giving me ten dirhams. (9)

[Ref 1: An Excerpt from Fat-hul Baari Sharh Saheeh Al-Bukhaari 1/245 Daarus Salaam 1st Edition 1421AH (2000)]

[Ref 2: Excerpt from Sharh Hilyatil Taalibil Ilm Pages 75-76]

[Ref 3: Source: Al-Hath-Thu Alaa At-Tijaarah Was-Sinaa’ah of Al-Khallaal (rahimahullaah) Page: 27]

[Ref 4: Al-Hath-thu Alaa At-Tijaarah Was-sinaa-ah. page:29]

[Ref 5: Al-Hath-thu alaa At-Tijaarah page: 35]

[Ref 6: Al-Hath-Thu Alaa At-Tijaarah Was-sinaa’ah. page: 30]

[Ref 7: Al-Hath-thu Alaa At-Tijaarah Was-Sinaa’ah. page: 39]

[Ref 8: Al-Hath-thu Alaa At-Tijaarah Was-sinaa’ah page: 54]

[Ref 9: Al-Hath-thu Alaa At-Tijaarah Was-Sinaa’ah. page 62]