Question
What are the views of Imām Aḥmad and Imām Ibn ʿAdī regarding Mujālid ibn Saʿīd, especially in his narrations from al-Shaʿbī?
Answer
Mujālid ibn Saʿīd is considered weak (ḍaʿīf), and his narrations from al-Shaʿbī are also weak. Some claim that his narrations from al-Shaʿbī are ḥasan, but this is a misunderstanding of the words of Imām Ibn ʿAdī.
Opinion of Imām Ibn ʿAdī (رحمه الله, d. 365H)
He said:
مجالد له عن الشعبي عن جابر أحاديث صالحة وعن غير جابر من الصحابة أحاديث صالحة... وجملة ما يرويه عن الشعبي وقد رواه عن غير الشعبي ولكن أكثر روايته عنه وعامة ما يرويه غير محفوظ
“Mujālid has from al-Shaʿbī, through Jābir ibn ʿAbdullāh (رضي الله عنه), some acceptable aḥādīth. Likewise, from other Companions too, he has some acceptable aḥādīth. The majority of his narrations are from al-Shaʿbī, though he narrates from others as well. But most of his narrations are unreliable.”
(al-Kāmil fī Ḍuʿafāʾ al-Rijāl 8/169)
Here, the term “ṣāliḥ” is used in contrast to “ghayr maḥfūẓ” (unreliable). Meaning: while most of Mujālid’s narrations are weak and munkar, a few narrations from al-Shaʿbī are free from obvious defect. However, “ṣāliḥ” does not mean ṣaḥīḥ (authentic).
Opinion of Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal (رحمه الله, d. 241H)
He said:
مجالد حديثه عن أصحابه كأنه حلم
“Mujālid’s ḥadīth from his teachers is like a dream (i.e., baseless and unreliable).”
(Kitāb al-Majrūḥīn by Ibn Ḥibbān 3/11 – chain authentic)
And he also said:
حديث مجالد عن الشعبي، كأنه حلم
“Mujālid’s narration from al-Shaʿbī is like a dream (false and without substance).”
(Masāʾil al-Imām Aḥmad wa Isḥāq ibn Rāhwayh, no. 750)
Conclusion:- Mujālid ibn Saʿīd is a weak narrator, especially in his narrations from al-Shaʿbī.
- Imām Ibn ʿAdī acknowledged that a few of his narrations are free of obvious error but confirmed that most are unreliable.
- Imām Aḥmad regarded his reports as baseless, like dreams.
- Thus, his narrations cannot be relied upon for rulings or creed.
