Clarification of Doubt
A Sunnah is a solitary report, and the proof of a solitary report is speculative, that is, conjecture, and following conjecture according to the Holy Quran is blameworthy!
قال الله تعالى: ﴿إِنْ يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَإِنَّ الظَّنَّ لَا يُغْنِي مِنَ الْحَقِّ شَيْئًا﴾
Reference: (Surah An-Najm:28)
Translation: They follow nothing but conjecture, and conjecture avails nothing against the truth.
Response to Doubt
First Point
Ahad (solitary) are those hadiths whose narrators are one or two or more, and they are also just and precise. Regarding such hadiths, some scholars of hadith hold the opinion that from these hadiths, based on clear evidence, predominant conjecture or "speculative knowledge" is obtained, but conjecture here does not mean doubt at all because the word conjecture is not always used for doubt and hesitation, as Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran:
﴿الَّذِيْنَ يَظُنُّوْنَ اَنَّهُمْ مُّلٰقُوْا رَبِّهِمْ﴾
Reference: (Surah Al-Baqarah:46)
Translation: Those who fear Allah are those who have certainty that they will meet their Lord.
﴿قَالَ الَّذِيْنَ يَظُنُّوْنَ اَنَّهُمْ مُّلٰقُوا اللّٰهِ كَمْ مِّنْ فِئَةٍ قَلِيْلَةٍ غَلَبَتْ فِئَةً كَثِيْرةً باِذْنِ اللّٰهِ﴾
Reference: (Surah Al-Baqarah:249)
Translation: It is said by those who believe that they have to appear before Allah. Sometimes small groups, by the command of Allah, overpower larger groups.
Second Point
Hadith scholars first established the criteria of narration and understanding, then examined and evaluated the hadiths based on these criteria, and later expressed their opinion about the hadith, whether it is authentic (Sahih), good (Hasan), or weak (Da'if) according to their research.
The word "Zann" (speculation) is used because all efforts to verify narration and understanding are ultimately human, and there is a possibility of error and oversight. This indicates their piety and caution in dealing with hadith.
Third Point
The statement of the hadith scholars that knowledge derived from hadith is speculative (Zanni) is to absolve themselves of blame and to leave the matter to Allah, as mentioned in the Quran regarding Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), who said to his people:
﴿قَالَ أَتُحَاجُّونِّي فِي اللَّهِ وَقَدْ هَدَانِ ۚ وَلَا أَخَافُ مَا تُشْرِكُونَ بِهِ إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ رَبِّي شَيْئًا ۗ وَسِعَ رَبِّي كُلَّ شَيْءٍ عِلْمًا ۗ أَفَلَا تَتَذَكَّرُونَ﴾
Reference: (Al-An'am:80)
Translation: He said, "Do you dispute with me about Allah while He has certainly guided me? And I do not fear what you associate with Him, except that my Lord should will something. My Lord encompasses all things in knowledge. So will you not take heed?"
The statement of Ibrahim (peace be upon him): "Except that my Lord should will something" — what else can it be but entrusting the matter to Allah!
Fourth Point
Nowhere in the Quran is it mentioned that solitary reports (akhbar ahad) are doubtful; rather, the Quran commands acceptance of solitary reports, as Allah Almighty says regarding testimony:
﴿وَاسْتَشْهِدُوا شَهِيدَيْنِ مِنْ رِجَالِكُمْ﴾
Reference: (Surah Al-Baqarah:282)
Translation: And bring to witness two witnesses from among your men.
﴿وَأَشْهِدُوا ذَوَيْ عَدْلٍ مِنْكُمْ وَأَقِيمُوا الشَّهَادَةَ لِلَّهِ﴾
Reference: (Surah At-Talaq:2)
Translation: And bring to witness two just men from among yourselves and establish the testimony for Allah.
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