Difference Between “Munkar Narration” and “Munkar al-Ḥadīth”
Source: Fatāwā Amnpūrī by Shaykh Ghulām Muṣṭafā Ẓahīr Amnpūrī
❖ Question
If a narrator is described as “روى المناكير” (he narrated munkar reports), does that make him absolutely weak, such that none of his narrations are accepted?
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
- Simply narrating some munkar reports does not render a narrator absolutely weak such that all his narrations are rejected.
- However, if munkar reports are numerous in his narrations, until he is described as “munkar al-ḥadīth”, then he is considered weak, and his narrations are abandoned.
✿ Statements of the Scholars
◈ Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Daqīq al-ʿĪd (رحمه الله, d. 702H):
“Narrating munkar aḥādīth does not by itself necessitate rejecting all of his narrations, unless such munkar reports become abundant, until he is described as ‘munkar al-ḥadīth’. Then his narrations are to be left.”
(Sharḥ al-Ilmām 3/247)
◈ Ḥāfiẓ al-Sakhāwī (رحمه الله, d. 902H):
“Being called ‘munkar al-ḥadīth’ is a quality in a man which necessitates that his ḥadīth be abandoned. As for the expression ‘narrated munkarāt’, this does not necessarily imply permanent rejection of his narrations.”
(Fatḥ al-Mughīth 2/130)
◈ Ḥāfiẓ al-Dhahabī (رحمه الله, d. 748H):
“Not everyone who narrates munkarāt is declared weak.”
(Mīzān al-Iʿtidāl 1/118)
◈ Conclusion
- “روى المناكير” (narrated munkarāt): does not make the narrator absolutely weak unless such reports are frequent.
- “منكر الحديث” (munkar al-ḥadīth): a definitive weakness label, requiring rejection of his narrations.
والله أعلم بالصواب
