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Source: Fatawa ‘Ilmiyyah, vol. 3 — Usul, Takhrīj al-Riwayāt and Their Rulings, p. 236
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A Barelwi individual representing the “Tahir-ul-Qadri group” claimed:
① That Sahih al-Bukhari contains narrators who allegedly held deviant beliefs — Qadari, Rafidi or Murji’ — and some narrators were accused of being munkar al-hadith, weak, or prone to mistakes.
② That Imam al-Bukhari رحمه الله narrated from certain narrators despite allegedly criticising them himself in other works (such as al-Du‘afā’).
He presented as examples two narrations:
❀ A hadith in “Bāb al-Istinjā’ bil-Mā’”, containing the narrator ‘Atā’ ibn Abi Maymūnah.
❀ A hadith in “Kitāb al-Maghāzī”, containing the narrator Ayyūb ibn ‘Āyidh.
He claimed that Imam al-Bukhari رحمه الله mentioned these two narrators in Kitāb al-Du‘afā’ due to their Qadari or Murji’ beliefs.
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This objection originated from a person belonging to the Barelwi school who asserted that Sahih al-Bukhari contains 18 weak narrations.
When asked for clarity, he could only present two incomplete references, claiming the narrators were weak. He also objected to other narrators such as:
✦ Zuhayr ibn Muhammad al-Taymi
✦ ‘Abdullah ibn Kabīr
✦ ‘Abd al-Warith ibn Sa‘īd
✦ Kahmas ibn Minhāl
✦ ‘Abd al-Malik ibn A‘yan
✦ ‘Atā’ ibn Yazīd
✦ Marwān ibn al-Hakam
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According to the principles of hadith, a narrator being Qadari, Rafidi or Murji’ does not make his narration weak if he is otherwise reliable (‘adl, thiqah, truthful).
A criticism (jarh) based solely on a narrator’s sectarian belief is non-effective when:
• His honesty and precision have been affirmed by the majority of hadith scholars.
This is a foundational rule accepted by all leading muhaddithun.
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❀ Ibn Khuzaymah رحمه الله said:
حدّثنا عَبّاد بن يعقوب المُتّهم في رأيه، الثقة في حديثه
“‘Abbad ibn Ya‘qub — though accused concerning his beliefs — is reliable in his hadith.”
❀ Yahya ibn Ma‘in رحمه الله said:
الشیعي ثقة، والقدري ثقة
“A Shi‘i can be trustworthy; a Qadari can be trustworthy.”
❀ Abu Zur‘ah al-Razi رحمه الله described a narrator as:
كوفي، ثقة، مرجئي
“A Kufan, trustworthy, yet Murji’.”
Likewise, Ya‘qub ibn Sufyan, al-‘Ajli, Ibn Shahin, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Abu Hatim, al-Dhahabi, Ibn Hajar, and many other leading hadith authorities agreed upon this principle.
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These six mentioned some level of jarh:
① Abu Hatim al-Razi
② Imam al-Bukhari
③ al-‘Aqili
④ Ibn Sa‘d
⑤ Ibn al-Jawzi
⑥ Ibn ‘Adi
These nine authenticated him:
① Yahya ibn Ma‘in
② Abu Zur‘ah
③ Ibn Sa‘d (also praised him)
④ Ibn Hibban
⑤ Ya‘qub ibn Sufyan
⑥ al-‘Ajli
⑦ Ibn Shahin
⑧ Imam al-Bukhari
⑨ Imam Muslim
So the majority (9 vs. 6) consider him thiqah.
❀ Ibn Hajar رحمه الله:
ثقة رمي بالقدر
“He is trustworthy; accused of Qadari beliefs.”
❀ Al-Dhahabi رحمه الله:
صدوق
“Truthful.”
Conclusion:
‘Atā’ ibn Abi Maymūnah is reliable and sound according to the majority.
Imam al-Bukhari رحمه الله mentioned him in al-Du‘afā’ only because of his belief, not because of narrative weakness.
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He was mentioned only due to Murji’ beliefs, not due to hadith weakness.
① Yahya ibn Ma‘in
② Abu Hatim
③ Imam al-Bukhari
④ Imam Muslim
⑤ al-Nasa’i
⑥ Ibn al-Madini
⑦ Ibn Hibban
⑧ Ibn Shahin
⑨ al-‘Ajli
Even Imam al-Bukhari رحمه الله said:
كان يرى الإرجاء، وهو صدوق
“He held Murji’ beliefs, yet he is truthful.”
Al-Dhahabi’s failure to cite Imam al-Bukhari’s statement in Mizan al-I‘tidal does not negate its authenticity.
Conclusion:
Ayyūb ibn ‘Āyidh is reliable. His theological views do not invalidate his narrations.
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It is established that Sahih al-Bukhari includes narrators with sectarian affiliations — yet considered reliable by the majority.
Examples:
❀ Muhammad ibn Fudayl ibn Ghazwān → thiqah, Shi‘i tendencies
❀ Abān ibn Taghlib → Shi‘i extremist, yet ṣadūq
❀ Thawr ibn Yazīd → Qadari, but thiqah
❀ ‘Adi ibn Thābit → ṣadūq, Shi‘i, imam of their masjid
Hadith authenticity is based on truthfulness and precision, not sect affiliation.
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The objector also raised issues against:
❀ Zuhayr ibn Muhammad al-Taymi
❀ ‘Abd al-Warith ibn Sa‘īd
❀ Kahmas ibn Minhāl
❀ ‘Abd al-Malik ibn A‘yan
❀ ‘Atā’ ibn Yazīd
❀ Marwān ibn al-Hakam
All of these are either thiqah or ṣadūq according to the majority — therefore objections are rejected.
As for:
❀ ‘Abdullah ibn Kabir
→ He is not a narrator of Sahih al-Bukhari at all — this is either a transcription error or confusion by the objector.
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Definition:
A mu‘allaq narration is one where Imam al-Bukhari omits the complete chain, quoting only a Companion or Tabi‘i.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar رحمه الله documented every single mu‘allaq narration with full chains in his monumental work:
✦ Taghliq al-Ta‘liq
Thus, the chains are known and preserved.
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Statements of major scholars:
❀ Al-‘Ayni al-Hanafi:
“After the Book of Allah, the most authentic books are Bukhari and Muslim.”
❀ Mulla ‘Ali al-Qari:
“Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim have received talaqqi bil-qabūl (universal scholarly acceptance).”
❀ Shah Waliullah:
“Every connected and marfu‘ narration in the Sahihayn is certainly authentic.”
❀ Ahmad Rida Khan (Barelwi authority):
“Sahih al-Bukhari contains the most exalted and superior ahadith.”
❀ Even Barelwi scholars like Abdul-Samī‘ Rampuri and Muhammad Karam Shah al-Azhari affirmed:
“Sahih al-Bukhari is the most authentic book after the Book of Allah.”
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The claim that Sahih al-Bukhari contains 18 weak narrations is:
Baseless
Incorrect
Academically invalid
If the objector can produce even one marfu‘, muttasil narration from Sahih al-Bukhari that is weak according to the principles of hadith and the majority of hadith critics, we are ready to respond.
Until today, no such narration has ever been proven.
Therefore, the objector must be asked to:
❀ Produce — if he can — even one Sahih al-Bukhari narration that is weak by the standards of hadith sciences.
❀ Or present three connected, marfu‘ narrations from Sahih al-Bukhari that are weak according to the majority.
He will certainly fail, in shā’ Allah.
Hence, he must abandon slandering Sahih al-Bukhari, otherwise accountability awaits in the Hereafter.
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Objections Raised Regarding “Weak or Deviant Narrators” in Sahih al-Bukhari and Their Evidence-Based Refutation
Source: Fatawa ‘Ilmiyyah, vol. 3 — Usul, Takhrīj al-Riwayāt and Their Rulings, p. 236
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Summary of the Objection
A Barelwi individual representing the “Tahir-ul-Qadri group” claimed:
① That Sahih al-Bukhari contains narrators who allegedly held deviant beliefs — Qadari, Rafidi or Murji’ — and some narrators were accused of being munkar al-hadith, weak, or prone to mistakes.
② That Imam al-Bukhari رحمه الله narrated from certain narrators despite allegedly criticising them himself in other works (such as al-Du‘afā’).
He presented as examples two narrations:
❀ A hadith in “Bāb al-Istinjā’ bil-Mā’”, containing the narrator ‘Atā’ ibn Abi Maymūnah.
❀ A hadith in “Kitāb al-Maghāzī”, containing the narrator Ayyūb ibn ‘Āyidh.
He claimed that Imam al-Bukhari رحمه الله mentioned these two narrators in Kitāb al-Du‘afā’ due to their Qadari or Murji’ beliefs.
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Position of the Questioner
This objection originated from a person belonging to the Barelwi school who asserted that Sahih al-Bukhari contains 18 weak narrations.
When asked for clarity, he could only present two incomplete references, claiming the narrators were weak. He also objected to other narrators such as:
✦ Zuhayr ibn Muhammad al-Taymi
✦ ‘Abdullah ibn Kabīr
✦ ‘Abd al-Warith ibn Sa‘īd
✦ Kahmas ibn Minhāl
✦ ‘Abd al-Malik ibn A‘yan
✦ ‘Atā’ ibn Yazīd
✦ Marwān ibn al-Hakam
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Detailed Answer
Does a narrator’s deviant belief affect the authenticity of his hadith?
According to the principles of hadith, a narrator being Qadari, Rafidi or Murji’ does not make his narration weak if he is otherwise reliable (‘adl, thiqah, truthful).
A criticism (jarh) based solely on a narrator’s sectarian belief is non-effective when:
• His honesty and precision have been affirmed by the majority of hadith scholars.
This is a foundational rule accepted by all leading muhaddithun.
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Statements of Classical Hadith Imams
❀ Ibn Khuzaymah رحمه الله said:
حدّثنا عَبّاد بن يعقوب المُتّهم في رأيه، الثقة في حديثه
“‘Abbad ibn Ya‘qub — though accused concerning his beliefs — is reliable in his hadith.”
Reference: Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah 2/376–377, hadith 1497
❀ Yahya ibn Ma‘in رحمه الله said:
الشیعي ثقة، والقدري ثقة
“A Shi‘i can be trustworthy; a Qadari can be trustworthy.”
Reference: Su’alat Ibn al-Junayd: 617
❀ Abu Zur‘ah al-Razi رحمه الله described a narrator as:
كوفي، ثقة، مرجئي
“A Kufan, trustworthy, yet Murji’.”
Reference: Al-Jarh wa al-Ta‘dil 2/145
Likewise, Ya‘qub ibn Sufyan, al-‘Ajli, Ibn Shahin, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Abu Hatim, al-Dhahabi, Ibn Hajar, and many other leading hadith authorities agreed upon this principle.
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Research Analysis of the First Narrator: ‘Atā’ ibn Abi Maymūnah
Scholars Who Criticised Him:
These six mentioned some level of jarh:
① Abu Hatim al-Razi
② Imam al-Bukhari
③ al-‘Aqili
④ Ibn Sa‘d
⑤ Ibn al-Jawzi
⑥ Ibn ‘Adi
Scholars Who Declared Him Reliable:
These nine authenticated him:
① Yahya ibn Ma‘in
② Abu Zur‘ah
③ Ibn Sa‘d (also praised him)
④ Ibn Hibban
⑤ Ya‘qub ibn Sufyan
⑥ al-‘Ajli
⑦ Ibn Shahin
⑧ Imam al-Bukhari
⑨ Imam Muslim
So the majority (9 vs. 6) consider him thiqah.
Statements of Leading Hadith Masters
❀ Ibn Hajar رحمه الله:
ثقة رمي بالقدر
“He is trustworthy; accused of Qadari beliefs.”
Reference: Taqrib al-Tahdhib: 4601
❀ Al-Dhahabi رحمه الله:
صدوق
“Truthful.”
Reference: Al-Kashif 2/233, no. 3861
Conclusion:
‘Atā’ ibn Abi Maymūnah is reliable and sound according to the majority.
Imam al-Bukhari رحمه الله mentioned him in al-Du‘afā’ only because of his belief, not because of narrative weakness.
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Research Analysis of the Second Narrator: Ayyūb ibn ‘Āyidh
Criticism:
He was mentioned only due to Murji’ beliefs, not due to hadith weakness.
Scholars Who Declared Him Reliable (9 Scholars):
① Yahya ibn Ma‘in
② Abu Hatim
③ Imam al-Bukhari
④ Imam Muslim
⑤ al-Nasa’i
⑥ Ibn al-Madini
⑦ Ibn Hibban
⑧ Ibn Shahin
⑨ al-‘Ajli
Even Imam al-Bukhari رحمه الله said:
كان يرى الإرجاء، وهو صدوق
“He held Murji’ beliefs, yet he is truthful.”
Reference: Al-Du‘afā’, verified edition, p. 25
Al-Dhahabi’s failure to cite Imam al-Bukhari’s statement in Mizan al-I‘tidal does not negate its authenticity.
Conclusion:
Ayyūb ibn ‘Āyidh is reliable. His theological views do not invalidate his narrations.
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Deviant-belief Narrators in Sahih al-Bukhari
It is established that Sahih al-Bukhari includes narrators with sectarian affiliations — yet considered reliable by the majority.
Examples:
❀ Muhammad ibn Fudayl ibn Ghazwān → thiqah, Shi‘i tendencies
❀ Abān ibn Taghlib → Shi‘i extremist, yet ṣadūq
❀ Thawr ibn Yazīd → Qadari, but thiqah
❀ ‘Adi ibn Thābit → ṣadūq, Shi‘i, imam of their masjid
Hadith authenticity is based on truthfulness and precision, not sect affiliation.
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Review of Other Narrators Objected To
The objector also raised issues against:
❀ Zuhayr ibn Muhammad al-Taymi
❀ ‘Abd al-Warith ibn Sa‘īd
❀ Kahmas ibn Minhāl
❀ ‘Abd al-Malik ibn A‘yan
❀ ‘Atā’ ibn Yazīd
❀ Marwān ibn al-Hakam
All of these are either thiqah or ṣadūq according to the majority — therefore objections are rejected.
As for:
❀ ‘Abdullah ibn Kabir
→ He is not a narrator of Sahih al-Bukhari at all — this is either a transcription error or confusion by the objector.
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Understanding the Mu‘allaq Narrations of Sahih al-Bukhari
Definition:
A mu‘allaq narration is one where Imam al-Bukhari omits the complete chain, quoting only a Companion or Tabi‘i.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar رحمه الله documented every single mu‘allaq narration with full chains in his monumental work:
✦ Taghliq al-Ta‘liq
Thus, the chains are known and preserved.
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Talaqqi bil-Qabūl and the Greatness of Sahih al-Bukhari
Statements of major scholars:
❀ Al-‘Ayni al-Hanafi:
“After the Book of Allah, the most authentic books are Bukhari and Muslim.”
Reference: ‘Umdat al-Qari 1/5
❀ Mulla ‘Ali al-Qari:
“Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim have received talaqqi bil-qabūl (universal scholarly acceptance).”
Reference: Mirqat al-Mafatih 1/58
❀ Shah Waliullah:
“Every connected and marfu‘ narration in the Sahihayn is certainly authentic.”
Reference: Hujjatullah al-Balighah 1/242
❀ Ahmad Rida Khan (Barelwi authority):
“Sahih al-Bukhari contains the most exalted and superior ahadith.”
Reference: Ahkam al-Shariah, part 1, p. 62
❀ Even Barelwi scholars like Abdul-Samī‘ Rampuri and Muhammad Karam Shah al-Azhari affirmed:
“Sahih al-Bukhari is the most authentic book after the Book of Allah.”
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Final Answer
The claim that Sahih al-Bukhari contains 18 weak narrations is:
Baseless Incorrect Academically invalidIf the objector can produce even one marfu‘, muttasil narration from Sahih al-Bukhari that is weak according to the principles of hadith and the majority of hadith critics, we are ready to respond.
Until today, no such narration has ever been proven.
Therefore, the objector must be asked to:
❀ Produce — if he can — even one Sahih al-Bukhari narration that is weak by the standards of hadith sciences.
❀ Or present three connected, marfu‘ narrations from Sahih al-Bukhari that are weak according to the majority.
He will certainly fail, in shā’ Allah.
Hence, he must abandon slandering Sahih al-Bukhari, otherwise accountability awaits in the Hereafter.
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