Source: Tuluʿ-e-Islām Objections Refuted — Fatāwā ʿUlamāʾ-e-Ahl-e-Ḥadīth, Kitāb al-Ṭahārah, Volume 1
❖ The Claim of
The followers of Tuluʿ-e-Islām reject the corpus of Ḥadīth using the argument of ẓann (conjecture) versus yaqīn (certainty).
They assert:
“Dīn must be based solely on what is certain (yaqīn), not on conjectural (ẓannī) or analogical sources.”
(Maqām-e-Ḥadīth, p. 4)
❖ Meaning of
The term “ẓann” is used in Ḥadīth sciences not in the sense of doubt or suspicion, as misunderstood by Hadith rejecters.
Rather, scholars of Ḥadīth use ẓann in a technical manner, referring to varying degrees of transmitted knowledge.
❖ Classifications of Ḥadīth According to Certainty
① Sunna Mutawātirah wa Mutʿāmalah
◈ These are Ḥadīths that have been continuously practiced upon since the time of the Ṣaḥābah without dispute.
Examples:
✔ Five daily prayers
✔ Number of rakʿāt
✔ Methods of Ḥajj and Zakāh
✔ Laws of Nikāḥ and Ṭalāq
These Ḥadīths are transmitted generation to generation, and their practice reflects definitive certainty (yaqīn).
② Mutawātir Ḥadīths (Narrated by numerous chains at every level)
◈ Often related to ʿAqāʾid (beliefs).
Examples:
إِنَّمَا الأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ
(“Actions are judged by intentions.” — Bukhārī 1, Muslim 1907)
مَن كَذَبَ عَلَيَّ مُتَعَمِّدًا…
(“Whoever deliberately lies about me, let him prepare his place in Hell.” — Bukhārī 107, Muslim)
These Ḥadīths are certain in authenticity and meaning.
③ Aḥādīth ʿAzīz & Mashhūr
- Ḥadīth ʿAzīz: Two reliable narrators at each level.
- Ḥadīth Mashhūr: More than two narrators at every level.
◈ These Ḥadīths provide overwhelmingly strong probability (ghālib al-ẓann), nearly equating to certainty.
④ Ḥadīth Gharīb (Akhbār al-Āḥād)
◈ Narrated by only one narrator at any level.
These are termed āḥād reports.
Here, ẓann means reasonable estimation based on established principles, not random guesswork or suspicion.
❖ Can a Khābar Wāḥid Reach Certainty?
✔ Yes — when external supporting evidences (qarāʾin wa shawāhid) exist, even a single-chain report can attain the status of certainty.
❖ Examples of Strengthening Evidence:
① Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī & Muslim Narrations
✔ The consensus (ijmāʿ) of the Ummah on their reliability.
② Famous Aḥādīth (Mashhūr)
✔ Narrated through multiple clean and strong chains.
③ Consistently Transmitted by the Imāms (Musalsal bil-Aʾimmah)
✔ Narrated and accepted by leading scholars in every generation.
➤ If even one of these criteria is met, the narration attains the level of yaqīn (definitive knowledge).
❖ Detailed Classification of Khabar al-Wāḥid
Scholars of Ḥadīth divided single-chain reports based on their strength:
◈ Ṣaḥīḥ li-dhātihī
Narrators are trustworthy (thiqah), and the chain is unbroken.
◈ Ḥasan li-dhātihī
Narrator has slightly weaker memory but is otherwise reliable.
◈ Ṣaḥīḥ li-ghayrihī
A ḥasan narration supported by other independent chains.
◈ Ḥasan li-ghayrihī
A weak narration that becomes acceptable due to multiple chains.
❖ Tuluʿ-e-Islām’s Ignorant Objection:
“Why so many categories? Why not simply label a ḥadīth as either true or false?”
Response:
◈ This stems from a lack of understanding of the ḥadīth sciences.
◈ Just as legal and scientific classifications have various grades, the ḥadīth corpus is also meticulously categorized.
❖ Two Major Categories of Ḥadīth
✅ Ḥadīth Maqbūl (Accepted):
- Mutawātir
- Mashhūr
- ʿAzīz
- Gharīb Ṣaḥīḥ
- Ḥasan
❌ Ḥadīth Mardūd (Rejected):
- Mawḍūʿ (Fabricated)
- Matwūk (Abandoned)
- Ḍaʿīf (Weak)
- Muḍṭarib (Contradictory)
❖ Conclusion
✔ The scholars of Ḥadīth exhibited unmatched precision, creating a science of authentication unparalleled in history.
✔ Their analysis of chains and content provided a firm methodology — not found in any other intellectual tradition.
✔ Sadly, some individuals — due to ignorance or Orientalist influence — question the reliability of Ḥadīth.
🔒 Without Ḥadīth, the religion remains incomplete, because the Qur’ān’s practical implementation lies in the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
