Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … Imam al-Albani rahimahullah writes: Hafiz Ibn Kathir said (Tafsir al-Qur’an al-‘Azim: 5/12-13): “This is a very strange and unacceptable report.” But I (al-Albani) say: The strangeness and singularity that Hafiz Ibn Kathir has claimed is negated due to other chains of transmission (turq), … Although there is weakness in these chains, they strengthen each other, and the hadith can become acceptable for practice. From all these chains, it is known that this verse was revealed regarding the rows (saffs) of prayer. As for the issue of this hadith being unacceptable, it is possible that what Hafiz Sahib meant is that this text is not rationally understandable; how could it be that in the time of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, the praying Companions would stand in the back rows in order to look at a woman? We answer this by saying that when a narration is established, the scope for speculation and reasoning comes to an end; after the authenticity of a hadith is established, there remains no reason to consider it objectionable. If we make intellect the criterion, then it would necessitate the rejection of many authentic (sahih) ahadith. This approach does not befit Ahl al-Sunnah and Ahl al-Hadith; rather, it is the attitude of the Mu’tazilah and people of desires. The second point is that it is possible that those standing in the back rows were hypocrites (munafiqun) or newly converted Companions, who had not yet fully molded themselves into the framework of Islamic manners and ethics. (Sahihah: 2472)