What Is the Hadith of Qullatayn and What Is Its Authenticity?
Source: Fatawa Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
Question:
What is the Hadith of Qullatayn and what is its authenticity?
Answer:
Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about water upon which animals and beasts come. The Prophet ﷺ said:
إذا كان الماء قلتين لم يحمل الخبث.
(When the water reaches two Qullahs, it does not become impure [by impurity falling into it] unless its color, smell, or taste changes.)
(Musnad Ahmad: 2/26, Sunan Abi Dawud: 63 – wording from Abi Dawud, Sunan al-Nasa’i: 52)
This Hadith has been graded authentic by numerous scholars:
❀ Imam Ibn Khuzaymah رحمه الله (92) and Imam Ibn Hibban رحمه الله (1249) declared it Sahih.
❀ Imam al-Hakim رحمه الله (1/132-133) graded it authentic upon the conditions of Bukhari and Muslim, and Hafiz al-Dhahabi رحمه الله agreed.
❀ Imam al-Tabari رحمه الله considered it Sahih.
(Tahdhib al-Athar: 2/736)
❀ Hafiz Ibn al-Mulaqqin رحمه الله quotes Imam al-Rafi‘i رحمه الله:
“Most of the Muhaddithin declare both its chains authentic and affirm that Abdullah and Ubaydullah (the sons of Ibn Umar) both narrated it from their father.”
(al-Badr al-Munir: 1/409)
❀ Imam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله said:
“Most of the scholars say that the Hadith of Qullatayn is Hasan and a valid proof.”
(Majmu‘ al-Fatawa: 21/41)
❀ Hafiz al-Khattabi رحمه الله stated:
“The testimony of the great Muhaddithin — stars of the earth — that it is authentic and that they issued rulings upon it, is sufficient proof of its authenticity.”
(Ma‘alim al-Sunan: 1/36)
❀ Hafiz Ibn Mandah رحمه الله said:
“Its chain is upon the conditions of Muslim.”
(Talkhis al-Habir: 1/36)
❀ Imam al-Tahawi al-Hanafi رحمه الله graded it Sahih.
(Sharh Ma‘ani al-Athar: 1/16)
❀ Imam Ibn Hazm رحمه الله said:
“This Hadith is established as authentic; it has no weakness.”
(al-Muhalla: 1/151)
❀ Hafiz al-Jawzajani رحمه الله said:
“This Hadith is Hasan.”
(al-Abatil: 321)
❀ Imam al-Nawawi رحمه الله stated:
“This Hadith is firmly Hasan.”
(al-Majmu‘ Sharh al-Muhadhdhab: 1/112)
❀ Hafiz Abdul-Haqq al-Ishbili رحمه الله graded it Sahih.
(al-Ahkam al-Wusta: 1/155)
❀ Hafiz Ibn al-Mulaqqin رحمه الله confirmed its authenticity.
(al-Badr al-Munir: 1/404)
❀ Imam Ibn al-Athir رحمه الله wrote:
“There is no criticism in the text of this Hadith. It is well-known and acted upon. Its narrators are trustworthy and just. The chain variation does not cause weakness, as both sons of Ibn Umar — Abdullah and Ubaydullah — narrated it together.”
(al-Shafi fi Sharh Musnad al-Shafi‘i: 1/80)
❀ Hafiz Ibn Daqiq al-‘Id رحمه الله also authenticated it.
(Tabaqat al-Shafi‘iyyah al-Kubra: 2/245)
In addition to these, many other scholars have affirmed this Hadith as a reliable proof.
