Research on Sufyān al-Thawrī’s Tadlīs and His Classification in Ṭabaqah Thālithah
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah (Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām), Vol. 2, p. 317
What is the correct and preferred position regarding the tadlīs of Sufyān al-Thawrī (رحمه الله) and his muʿanʿan narrations?
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله، أما بعد:
“As for the mudallisin who are trustworthy and upright, we do not use their reports as proof unless they explicitly state hearing in what they narrate, such as al-Thawrī, al-Aʿmash, Abū Isḥāq, and those similar to them.”
(al-Iḥsān, Vol. 1, p. 90; other edition p. 161)
This is the strong and correct view. The author of Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah has also adopted it in his own works:
In a previous letter to ʿAbd al-Rashīd al-Anṣārī (dated 19/8/1408H), it was written:
“He is a Ṭabaqah Thāniyah mudallis whose tadlīs is not harmful.” (Jirābōn par Masḥ, p. 40)
This statement was incorrect, and I retract it. It should be considered null and void.
“Sufyān is among the mudallisin, and the narration with ‘ʿan’ of a mudallis is not used as proof unless his hearing is established through another chain.”
Conclusion:
Sufyān al-Thawrī (رحمه الله) was a trustworthy but mudallis narrator, belonging to Ṭabaqah Thālithah. His muʿanʿan narrations — outside of the Ṣaḥīḥayn — require either explicit hearing or corroboration to be accepted.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah (Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām), Vol. 2, p. 317
Question
What is the correct and preferred position regarding the tadlīs of Sufyān al-Thawrī (رحمه الله) and his muʿanʿan narrations?
Answer
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله، أما بعد:
The Preferred and Reliable Position
- Sufyān al-Thawrī (رحمه الله) was a trustworthy Imām and Amīr al-Muʾminīn in ḥadīth.
- Despite these high qualities, he was also a mudallis.
- He would perform tadlīs from weak narrators and others.
- Therefore, outside of the Ṣaḥīḥayn, his muʿanʿan narrations are weak and rejected unless they contain:
- Mutābaʿah (corroboration), or
- Explicit mention of hearing (taṣrīḥ bi al-samāʿ).
Determining His Ṭabaqah
- Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar (رحمه الله) placed Sufyān al-Thawrī in Ṭabaqah Thāniyah — this is incorrect.
- The correct classification: Ṭabaqah Thālithah.
- Imām al-Ḥākim al-Naysābūrī mentioned him in Ṭabaqah Thālithah.
- Maʿrifat ʿUlūm al-Ḥadīth, p. 106
- Jāmiʿ al-Taḥṣīl, p. 99
- Nūr al-ʿAynayn (new print), p. 138
- Imām al-Ḥākim al-Naysābūrī mentioned him in Ṭabaqah Thālithah.
Statement of Ibn Ḥibbān (رحمه الله)
“As for the mudallisin who are trustworthy and upright, we do not use their reports as proof unless they explicitly state hearing in what they narrate, such as al-Thawrī, al-Aʿmash, Abū Isḥāq, and those similar to them.”
(al-Iḥsān, Vol. 1, p. 90; other edition p. 161)
Correct and Preferred Conclusion
This is the strong and correct view. The author of Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah has also adopted it in his own works:
- Nūr al-ʿAynayn
- al-Taʾsīs fī Masʾalat al-Tadlīs (Published in al-Ḥadīth magazine, Issue 33)
Retraction from Previous Position
In a previous letter to ʿAbd al-Rashīd al-Anṣārī (dated 19/8/1408H), it was written:
“He is a Ṭabaqah Thāniyah mudallis whose tadlīs is not harmful.” (Jirābōn par Masḥ, p. 40)
This statement was incorrect, and I retract it. It should be considered null and void.
Statement of al-ʿAynī al-Ḥanafī
“Sufyān is among the mudallisin, and the narration with ‘ʿan’ of a mudallis is not used as proof unless his hearing is established through another chain.”
Conclusion:
Sufyān al-Thawrī (رحمه الله) was a trustworthy but mudallis narrator, belonging to Ṭabaqah Thālithah. His muʿanʿan narrations — outside of the Ṣaḥīḥayn — require either explicit hearing or corroboration to be accepted.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
