❖ Source:
Fatawa 'Ilmiyyah, Volume 1 – Principles, Takhrij, and Verification of Narrations, p. 571
❖ Question:
If one narrator reports a Hadith as mawṣūl (connected—i.e., with an unbroken chain reaching the Messenger of Allah ﷺ), and another reports the same Hadith as mawqūf (i.e., stopping at the Companion), then in such a scenario, which narration should be given preference: the mawṣūl or the mawqūf? Please provide a detailed answer. Also explain the dominant view of the Hadith scholars regarding "Ziyādat al-Thiqah" (addition by a trustworthy narrator).
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
❖ Divergence Among the Hadith Scholars:
There exists a difference of opinion among the scholars of Hadith on this issue. However, the outcome of critical investigation is as follows:
✿ In cases where:
◈ The narrator of the mawṣūl narration is thiqah (trustworthy),
◈ And the narrators of the mawqūf narration are also thiqah,
◈ Or, the narrator of the marfūʿ narration (i.e., elevated to the Prophet ﷺ) is thiqah,
◈ And the narrators of the mawqūf narration are likewise thiqah,
Then in all such situations, preference will be given to the mawṣūl or marfūʿ narration,
Provided that:
◈ The narration has not been declared shādh (anomalous—i.e., contradicting stronger reports) or maʿlūl (defective—i.e., having a hidden flaw) according to the majority of Hadith scholars.
❖ The Preferred Opinion on Ziyādat al-Thiqah (Addition by a Trustworthy Narrator):
Regarding Ziyādat al-Thiqah—i.e., a trustworthy narrator narrates something additional compared to others—
the writer of these lines has conducted a detailed research on this topic. For that research, refer to:
"Taḥqīqī Maqālāt, Volume 2 – Defense of a Hadith in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim"
❖ Important Note:
Narrations from the Ṣaḥīḥayn (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim) generally hold greater preference over narrations found in other hadith collections.
ھٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
This is what I have [to present], and Allah knows best what is correct.
