Narration Should Always Be From Trustworthy and Reliable People, and Not From Those Proven to Lie

Know, may Allah Almighty grant you success, that it is obligatory upon everyone who is able to distinguish between the authentic and the weak narrations, and between their trustworthy transmitters and those who are suspected, that he not narrate from them except what he knows to have sound sources and transmitters free of disrepute, and that he beware of what comes from people under suspicion and from the obstinate among the people of innovation.

The proof that what we have said in this regard is what is binding, and not what opposes it, is the saying of Allah, exalted be His mention: "O you who believe, if a sinful person comes to you with news, verify it, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and then become regretful over what you have done."

And He, exalted be His praise, said: "from among those whom you accept as witnesses", and He, the Mighty and Majestic, said: "and take as witnesses two just men from among you". These verses we have mentioned show that the report of a sinful person is discarded and not accepted, and that the testimony of one who is not upright is rejected. Although a report differs in meaning from testimony in some respects, the two agree in their most important aspects, since the report of a sinful person is not accepted by the scholars, just as his testimony is rejected by all of them.

And the Sunnah indicates the rejection of narrating munkar reports, just as the Qur'an indicates the rejection of the report of a sinful person. That is the well-known narration from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): "Whoever narrates a hadith from me which is seen to be a lie, he is one of the liars."