According to the opinion of the majority of hadith scholars, Mujalid bin Saeed Hamdani Kufi has been declared “weak.” Moreover, in the later part of his life, he also suffered from confusion. The statements of some hadith scholars in this regard are as follows:
Hafiz Abdul Rahim bin Hussain Iraqi Rahimahullah (406-765 AH) says:
“وَقَدْ ضَعَّفَہُ الْجُمْہُورُ، وَقَدِ اخْتَلَطَ أَخِیرًا”
Translation: “The majority of the noble hadith scholars have declared him weak, and he also became confused in his old age.”
Hafiz Abu al-Hasan Ali bin Abu Bakr Haithami (807-735 AH) says:
“وَقَدْ ضَعَّفَہُ الْجُمْہُورُ”
Translation: “The majority of hadith scholars have declared him weak.”
Allama Mahmood bin Ahmad Ayni Hanafi (855-762 AH) writes:
“وَمُجَالِدٌ ضَعَّفَہُ الْجُمْہُورُ”
Translation: “Mujalid has been declared weak by the majority of hadith scholars.”
Allama Ibn Muflih (884-816 AH) says:
“وَقَدْ ضَعَّفَہُ الْـأَکْثَرُ”
Translation: “Most hadith scholars have called him weak.”
Allama Abdul Rauf Munawi Rahimahullah (1031-952 AH) narrates from Hafiz Iraqi:
The majority have declared him weak.
Allama Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Ali Shawkani Rahimahullah (1250-1173 AH) states:
“وَقَدْ ضَعَّفَہُ الْجُمْہُورُ”
Translation: “The majority of the noble Muhaddithin have declared him weak.”
Imam Abu Abdullah Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Hanbal Rahimahullah (241-164 AH) states:
“مُجَالِدٌ حَدِیثُہٗ عَنْ أَصْحَابِہٖ کَأَنَّہٗ حُلْمٌ”
Translation: “The hadith narrated by Mujalid from his companions is like a dream.”
He further states: “حَدِیثُ مُجَالِدٍ عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، کَأَنَّہٗ حُلْمٌ”
Translation: “The narration of Mujalid from Shu’bi is like a dream.”
And he states: “ضَعِیفُ الْحَدِیثِ”
Translation: “His hadith is weak.”
He also states: “فَإِنَّہٗ کَانَ یُکْثِرُ وَیَضْطَرِبُ”
Translation: “Mujalid narrated many reports and was prone to confusion.”
Imam Muhammad bin Idris Shafi’i Rahimahullah (204-150 AH) states:
“وَالْحَدِیثُ عَنْ مُّجَالِدٍ یُّجَالِدُ الْحَدِیثَ”
Translation: “The narrations reported from Mujalid contradict authentic hadith.”
Imam Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Sa’d bin Mani’ Rahimahullah (230-168 AH) states:
“وَکَانَ ضَعِیفًا فِي الْحَدِیثِ”
Translation: “This hadith was weak.”
Allama Ibrahim bin Yaqub Juzjani (d. 259 AH) writes:
“یُضَعَّفُ حَدِیثُہٗ”
Translation: “The hadith narrated by him should be considered weak.”
Imam Abu Abdur Rahman Ahmad bin Shuayb Nasai, may Allah have mercy on him (215-303 AH), states:
“ضَعِیفٌ”
Translation: “He is a weak narrator.”
Note: Some scholars have mentioned that Imam Nasai, may Allah have mercy on him, considered Mujalid as “Thiqah” (trustworthy), but no evidence has been found for this.
Imam Abu Al-Hasan Ali bin Umar Dar Qutni, may Allah have mercy on him (306-385 AH), states:
“لَیْسَ بِقَوِيٍّ”
Translation: “He is not a strong narrator.”
He also states: “لَیْسَ بِثِقَۃٍ،۔۔۔، لاَ یُعْتَبَرُ بِہٖ”
Translation: “He is not a trustworthy narrator. He will not be given any consideration.”
Imam Abu Hatim Muhammad ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him (d. 354 AH), states:
“وَکَانَ رَدِيْئَ الْحِفْظِ، یُقَلِّبُ الْـأَسَانِیدَ، وَیَرْفَعُ الْمَرَاسِیلَ، لَا یَجُوزُ الِاحْتِجَاجُ بِہٖ”
Translation: “His memory was very weak. He used to alter chains of narration and convert Mursal narrations into Marfoo’. It is not permissible to take evidence from the hadith he narrated.”
Imam Abu Zakariya Yahya bin Ma’in, may Allah have mercy on him (158-233 AH), states:
“مُجَالِدٌ ضَعِیفٌ، وَاھِي الْحَدِیثِ”
Translation: “Majalid is a weak narrator and the hadiths he has narrated are weak.”
He also says: “مُجَالِدٌ وَّحَجَّاجٌ لَّا یُحْتَجُّ بِحَدِیثِہِمَا”
Translation: “The hadith narrated by Majalid and Hajjaj cannot be taken as evidence.”
Furthermore, he says: “کَانَ ضَعِیفًا”
Translation: “He was a weak narrator.”
Once he said: “إِسْرَائِیلُ وَشَرِیکٌ أَحَبُّ إِلَیَّ مِنْ مُّجَالِدٍ”
Translation: “Isra’il and Shareek are better narrators in my view than Majalid.”
Imam Yahya ibn Ma’in, may Allah have mercy on him, also called Majalid “trustworthy” at one place.
Comment: The statement of Imam Sahib regarding trustworthiness is against the consensus and also against his other statements, therefore the view in accordance with the consensus will be taken.
Imam Abu Saeed Yahya ibn Saeed Qattan, may Allah have mercy on him (198-120 AH), says:
“فِي نَفْسِي مِنْہُ شَيْئٌ”
Translation: “My heart is not clear about him.”
Imam Yahya bin Saeed Qattan, may Allah have mercy on him, asked Abdullah bin Saeed where he was going. He replied that he was going to Wahb bin Jarir to write the Seerah, which is narrated from Mujalid. Upon this, he said:
“تَکْتُبُ کَذِبًا کَثِیرًا، لَوْ شِئْتَ أَنْ یَّجْعَلَہَا لِيْ مُجَالِدٌ کُلَّہَا عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللّٰہِ فَعَلَ”
Translation: “You are going to write many lies. If you want, Mujalid can deliver all these chains of narration to our master Abdullah bin Masood, may Allah be pleased with him, through Shuba and Masrooq.”
This means that Mujalid’s memory had deteriorated to such an extent that he began accepting suggestions, i.e., when someone presented him with a fabricated chain of narration and said that the original chain was like this, he would accept it.
Imam Abu Hatim, may Allah have mercy on him, was asked whether the hadith narrated by Mujalid can be used as evidence. He replied: No, and further said:
“وَلَیْسَ مُجَالِدٌ بِقَوِيِّ الْحَدِیثِ”
Translation: “The hadith narrated by Mujalid is not strong.”
Imam Abu Ahmad Abdullah bin Adi, may Allah have mercy on him (365-277 AH), states:
“أَکْثَرُ رِوَایَتِہٖ عَنْہُ (الشَّعْبِيِّ)، وَعَامَّۃُ مَا یَرْوِیہِ غَیْرُ مَحْفُوظٍ”
Translation: “He has narrated most of the traditions through Sha’bi, and most of the traditions he has narrated are unreliable (denounced).”
Imam Abu Isa Muhammad ibn Isa Tirmidhi, may Allah have mercy on him (279-209 AH), says:
“وَقَدْ ضَعَّفَ مُجَالِدًا بَعْضُ أَھْلِ الْعِلْمِ، وَھُوَ کَثِیرُ الْغَلَطِ”
Translation: “Some scholars have declared Mujalid weak, and he makes many mistakes.”
He also says: “وَقَدْ تَکَلَّمَ بَعْضُہُمْ فِی مُجَالِدِ بْنِ سَعِیدٍ مِنْ قِبَلِ حِفْظِہٖ”
Translation: “Some scholars have criticized Mujalid due to weakness in memory.”
Imam Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Husayn Bayhaqi, may Allah have mercy on him (458-384 AH), says:
“غَیْرُ مُحْتَجٍّ بِہٖ”
Translation: “No proof can be taken from the hadith he has narrated.”
Allama Ali ibn Ahmad Ibn Hazm, may Allah have mercy on him (456-384 AH), says:
“ضَعِیفٌ”
Translation: “He is a weak narrator.”
He further says: “ھَالِکٌ”
Translation: “He is very weak.”
Opinions of other Muhaddithin:
Hafiz Mundhiri
, Hafiz Bu Sairi
, Allama Ibn Milqan
, Hafiz Ibn Hajar
, and Hafiz Ibn Kathir
have also declared them “weak.” Therefore, it is not correct for Hafiz Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him, to call one chain of this hadith “good.”
Hafiz Zahbi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
“مَشْہُورٌ، صَاحِبُ حَدِیثٍ، عَلٰی لِینٍ فِیہِ”
Translation: “He is a famous narrator, but a weak narrator.”
He also says: “لَیْسَ بِالْقَوِيِّ”
Translation: “He is not strong.”
Authentications about Mujalid
Opinions of the Moderators:
Imam Ibn Shahin, may Allah have mercy on him, mentioned from Imam Yahya ibn Ma’in that he is “trustworthy.”
The answer to this has already been given above that Imam Yahya ibn Ma’in’s statement is against the consensus of the hadith scholars and even against his own statements, therefore it should be considered rejected.
Imam Abu Abdullah Sufyan ibn Sa’id Thawri, may Allah have mercy on him (161-93 AH), says:
“وَقَدْ تَکَلَّمَ النَّاسُ فِیہِ، وَبِخَاصَّۃٍ یَحْیَی بْنُ سَعِیدٍ، وَھُوَ ثِقَۃٌ”
Translation: “The Imams of the religion have criticized him, especially Imam Yahya ibn Sa’id, however, he is trustworthy.”
Imam Abu Yusuf Yaqub bin Sufyan Fasawi, may Allah have mercy on him (d. 277 AH), says:
“وَأَمَّا مُجَالِدٌ وَّالْـأَجْلَحُ، فَقَدْ تَکَلَّمَ النَّاسُ فِیہِمَا، وَمُجَالِدٌ عَلٰی کُلِّ حَالٍ أَمْثَلُ مِنَ الْـأَجْلَحِ”
Translation: “There is criticism from the hadith scholars regarding both Mujalid and Ajlah, and Mujalid is better than Ajlah in every case.”
Note: Remember that Ajlah al-Kindi is considered “trustworthy” by the majority of hadith scholars. About him, Allama Haithami says: “Wal-akthar ‘ala tawthiqihi” meaning “Most of the noble hadith scholars authenticate him.”
For details, see Hafiz Abu Yahya Nurpuri’s book “Study of Sahih Bukhari and the Fitnah of Denying Hadith” (pp. 271-275).
Note: It is not established that Imam Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him, called Mujalid “Saduq” (truthful).
Imam Abu al-Hasan Ahmad bin Abdullah Ajli, may Allah have mercy on him (181-261 AH), says:
“جَائِزُ الْحَدِیثِ، حَسَنُ الْحَدِیثِ”
Translation: “His hadith is authentic and hasan (good).”
Imam Abu Bastam Shu’bah bin Hajjaj Ataki, may Allah have mercy on him (d. 160 AH), said to Al-Hasan bin Ali bin Asim:
“یَا حَسَنُ اسْتَخِرِ اللّٰہَ، وَأَدْبِرْ عَلٰی مُجَالِدٍ”
Translation: “Hasan! Seek goodness from Allah and go to Mujalid.”
Imam Abu al-Hasan Ali bin Abdullah Madini, may Allah have mercy on him (161-234 AH), mentioned the students of Imam Shu’bah, may Allah have mercy on him:
“مُجَالِدٌ فَوْقَ أَشْعَثَ بْنِ سَوَّارٍ، فَوْقَ أَجْلَحَ الْکِنْدِيِّ”
Translation: “Majalid is of a rank lower than Ashath bin Sawar and higher than Ajlah Kindi.”
Imam Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Masni Basri, may Allah have mercy on him (215-118 AH), says:
“یُحْتَمَلُ حَدِیثُہٗ لِصِدْقِہٖ”
Translation: “Due to his truthfulness, his hadith will be narrated.”
Note: Imam Muslim, may Allah have mercy on him, did not take any narration from Majalid bin Saeed in principle. In Sahih Muslim, Majalid’s narration appears in the form of following (combined with another narrator).
Warning Number 1
Abu Saeed Abdullah bin Saeed Ashja’ Kindi (d. 257 AH) says:
“ذَکَرَ رَجُلٌ عُثْمَانَ عِنْدَ مُجَالِدِ بْنِ سَعِیدٍ، فَقَالَ : مُجَالِدُ بْنُ سَعِیدٍ لِّغُلَامِہٖ : جُرَّہٗ وَاطْرَحْہُ فِي الْبِئْرِ”
Translation: “A person mentioned Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, to Majalid bin Saeed, so he told his servant: drag him and throw him into the well.”
Commentary: Its chain is “disconnected” due to which it is “weak,” because Abu Saeed died in 257 AH while Mujalid bin Saeed died in 144 AH. Their meeting and hearing is not established, rather it is impossible. This is why Hafiz Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “ھٰذِہٖ حِکَایَۃٌ مُّرْسَلَۃٌ” meaning “This is a Mursal (disconnected) narration.”
Imam Abdul Rahman bin Mahdi says:
“The hadith narrated by Yahya bin Saeed and Abu Usama from Mujalid is nothing, because they narrated from him after his memory deteriorated. However, the hadith of Shu’bah, Hammad bin Zaid, and Hashim is authentic, because they narrated from Mujalid before his memory deteriorated.”
Clarification: Imam Ibn Abu Hatim, may Allah have mercy on him, states that this refers to the deterioration of memory in old age.
Summary:
Mujalid bin Saeed, the Kufan narrator, is considered “weak” by the majority of hadith scholars.
