◈ Translation: Responses to Objections on the Authenticity and Weakness of Hadith ◈
Deniers of Hadith often raise the question: If Hadith is also a part of religion like the Qur’an, then why does it contain differences in authenticity?
This objection can be answered in the light of several points:
Just as there is a distinction between authentic and weak Hadiths, there is also a division in the recitations (Qirāʾāt) of the Qur’an into mutawātir (mass-transmitted) and shādh (irregular). For instance:
These are famous reciters who also narrated shādh recitations. Copies of these recitations also exist. However, the existence of such differences does not make the Qur’an doubtful. In the same way, the presence of fabricated narrations cannot be used to question the authenticity of sound Hadiths.
Most Hadiths are such that their authenticity is not disputed. Only a small number of Hadiths are subject to scholarly differences regarding their authenticity or weakness. Furthermore, these disagreements pertain not to the fundamental principles of the religion but to secondary issues.
All core religious doctrines and fundamentals are established through accepted Hadiths.
The classification of a Hadith as ṣaḥīḥ or ḍaʿīf does not imply that the religion itself becomes doubtful. Rather, it refers to the reliability of the attribution of the Hadith to the Prophet ﷺ. A difference of opinion on the attribution of a Hadith is an academic issue, not an objection against the religion.
Disagreements in understanding the rulings found in the Qur’an and Hadith are a matter related to the human audience. There is no contradiction in the religion of Allah.
Just as jurists may differ in interpreting the commands of the Qur’an, similar scholarly differences can occur in Hadith interpretation and evaluation.
No one is deprived of reward due to such differences.
The primary reason behind the fabrication of Hadiths was the fact that the sayings and actions of the Prophet ﷺ are a proof in religion. People with false intentions began attributing fabricated statements to the Prophet ﷺ for their own gain.
Examples include:
Hadith scholars made extraordinary efforts to prevent the spread of fabricated narrations:
① They conducted thorough investigations of every narration.
② They scrutinized the lives of the narrators in detail.
③ They formulated strict principles and regulations to distinguish authentic from fabricated narrations.
④ They compiled separate collections of fabricated Hadiths, such as:
Objection:
Hadith deniers argue that the presence of fabricated Hadiths casts doubt on the entire Hadith corpus. Their reasoning is: If some Hadiths are fabricated, then the rest cannot be trusted either.
Response:
This logic is akin to declaring all the residents of a house as thieves just because a thief entered the house, or calling the police officers robbers because they arrest robbers.
The truth is that Hadith scholars have successfully identified and separated fabricated narrations to protect the authentic Hadiths.
✔ There is no fabricated Hadith in the Ṣiḥāḥ Sittah — i.e., Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Sunan al-Nasāʾī.
✔ Only a few fabricated Hadiths have been identified in Sunan Ibn Mājah, and they are explicitly mentioned.
The claim of Hadith deniers that the existence of fabricated Hadiths causes unease is incorrect. In reality, the identification of fabricated Hadiths and the preservation of authentic ones have provided great reassurance to the Ummah, because:
① Fabricated Hadiths have been separated.
② Principles for identifying fabricated narrations have been developed.
③ The efforts of Hadith scholars prove that the core rulings of religion are well preserved.
This situation is similar to catching thieves in a country, which instills a sense of security among the people.
Complete protection may not be possible, but the existing system is sufficient for the preservation of religion.
The objection raised by Hadith deniers — that the presence of fabricated narrations undermines trust in the Hadith corpus — is academically unfounded.
The corpus of authentic Hadiths is preserved, and the principles set forth by Hadith scholars for scrutinizing narrations remain valid and reliable by all scholarly standards even today.
❖ Objection: Why is there a difference between authentic and weak Hadiths?
Deniers of Hadith often raise the question: If Hadith is also a part of religion like the Qur’an, then why does it contain differences in authenticity?
This objection can be answered in the light of several points:
✿ Differences Exist Even in the Qur’an's Qirāʾāt
Just as there is a distinction between authentic and weak Hadiths, there is also a division in the recitations (Qirāʾāt) of the Qur’an into mutawātir (mass-transmitted) and shādh (irregular). For instance:
- Ḥasan al-Baṣrī (d. 110 AH)
- Ibn Muḥayṣin (d. 123 AH)
- Aʿmash al-Asadī (d. 148 AH)
- Yazīdī al-Baṣrī (d. 202 AH)
These are famous reciters who also narrated shādh recitations. Copies of these recitations also exist. However, the existence of such differences does not make the Qur’an doubtful. In the same way, the presence of fabricated narrations cannot be used to question the authenticity of sound Hadiths.
❖ The Majority of Hadiths Are Unanimously Authentic
Most Hadiths are such that their authenticity is not disputed. Only a small number of Hadiths are subject to scholarly differences regarding their authenticity or weakness. Furthermore, these disagreements pertain not to the fundamental principles of the religion but to secondary issues.
All core religious doctrines and fundamentals are established through accepted Hadiths.
❖ Authenticity or Weakness of Hadith Does Not Affect the Religion Itself
The classification of a Hadith as ṣaḥīḥ or ḍaʿīf does not imply that the religion itself becomes doubtful. Rather, it refers to the reliability of the attribution of the Hadith to the Prophet ﷺ. A difference of opinion on the attribution of a Hadith is an academic issue, not an objection against the religion.
❖ Difference of Opinion in Hadith Authenticity Is a Human Matter, Not Divine
Disagreements in understanding the rulings found in the Qur’an and Hadith are a matter related to the human audience. There is no contradiction in the religion of Allah.
Just as jurists may differ in interpreting the commands of the Qur’an, similar scholarly differences can occur in Hadith interpretation and evaluation.
No one is deprived of reward due to such differences.
- One who reaches the correct ruling from Allah receives double reward.
- One who strives but does not reach the correct ruling receives a single reward.
❖ Fabricated Hadiths: Their Origin and Prevention
❀ Why Were Fabricated Hadiths Invented?
The primary reason behind the fabrication of Hadiths was the fact that the sayings and actions of the Prophet ﷺ are a proof in religion. People with false intentions began attributing fabricated statements to the Prophet ﷺ for their own gain.
Examples include:
- Shia sects fabricated Hadiths to promote political superiority of Ahl al-Bayt.
- Liberalists invented Hadiths to justify their desires.
- Rationalists created Hadiths to reinforce their ideological positions.
❖ Efforts of the Hadith Scholars (Muḥaddithīn)
Hadith scholars made extraordinary efforts to prevent the spread of fabricated narrations:
① They conducted thorough investigations of every narration.
② They scrutinized the lives of the narrators in detail.
③ They formulated strict principles and regulations to distinguish authentic from fabricated narrations.
④ They compiled separate collections of fabricated Hadiths, such as:
- Al-Laʾālī al-Maṣnūʿah fī al-Aḥādīth al-Mawḍūʿah by Imām Jalāl al-Dīn al-Suyūṭī رحمه الله
- Tanzīh al-Sharīʿah al-Marfuʿah ʿan al-Aḥādīth al-Shanīʿah al-Mawḍūʿah by Ḥāfiẓ Abū al-Ḥasan ibn ʿIrāq رحمه الله
❖ Objection from Hadith Deniers: Presence of Fabricated Hadiths
Objection:
Hadith deniers argue that the presence of fabricated Hadiths casts doubt on the entire Hadith corpus. Their reasoning is: If some Hadiths are fabricated, then the rest cannot be trusted either.
Response:
This logic is akin to declaring all the residents of a house as thieves just because a thief entered the house, or calling the police officers robbers because they arrest robbers.
The truth is that Hadith scholars have successfully identified and separated fabricated narrations to protect the authentic Hadiths.
❖ Identification of Fabricated Hadiths
✔ There is no fabricated Hadith in the Ṣiḥāḥ Sittah — i.e., Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Sunan al-Nasāʾī.
✔ Only a few fabricated Hadiths have been identified in Sunan Ibn Mājah, and they are explicitly mentioned.
❖ Hadith Corpus: A Sign of Reassurance
❀ Results of Hadith Authentication:
The claim of Hadith deniers that the existence of fabricated Hadiths causes unease is incorrect. In reality, the identification of fabricated Hadiths and the preservation of authentic ones have provided great reassurance to the Ummah, because:
① Fabricated Hadiths have been separated.
② Principles for identifying fabricated narrations have been developed.
③ The efforts of Hadith scholars prove that the core rulings of religion are well preserved.
This situation is similar to catching thieves in a country, which instills a sense of security among the people.
Complete protection may not be possible, but the existing system is sufficient for the preservation of religion.
❖ Conclusion
The objection raised by Hadith deniers — that the presence of fabricated narrations undermines trust in the Hadith corpus — is academically unfounded.
The corpus of authentic Hadiths is preserved, and the principles set forth by Hadith scholars for scrutinizing narrations remain valid and reliable by all scholarly standards even today.
