Source: Fatāwā ‘Ilmiyyah (Tawdīḥ al-Aḥkām), Vol. 2, p. 412
What is the rank of Al-Muwaṭṭa’ of Imām Mālik among Islamic books? And why was it not included in the Ṣiḥāḥ Sittah?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d!
✿ Al-Muwaṭṭa’ of Imām Mālik is a first-class book of Hadith.
✿ It enjoys a great scholarly status and is held in high esteem among the people of knowledge.
The reason, according to our view, is that:
◈ The book contains not only marfū‘ Ahadith (narrations traced back to the Prophet ﷺ), but also:
• Athār of the Companions (sayings and actions of the Ṣaḥābah),
• Athār of the Tābi‘īn (sayings of the Tābi‘īn), and
• Statements of Imām Mālik himself in abundance.
✿ In contrast, the distinctive feature and primary focus of the Ṣiḥāḥ Sittah is:
• To include only the Ahadith of the Prophet ﷺ,
• And not the sayings or actions of the Tābi‘īn, their followers, or other scholars.
✿ Due to this difference in style and content, Al-Muwaṭṭa’ of Imām Mālik was not included in the Ṣiḥāḥ Sittah,
✿ However, its scholarly value is in no way lesser than those books.
ھٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
❖ Question:
What is the rank of Al-Muwaṭṭa’ of Imām Mālik among Islamic books? And why was it not included in the Ṣiḥāḥ Sittah?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d!
Rank of Al-Muwaṭṭa’
✿ Al-Muwaṭṭa’ of Imām Mālik is a first-class book of Hadith.
✿ It enjoys a great scholarly status and is held in high esteem among the people of knowledge.
Reason for Its Exclusion from the Ṣiḥāḥ Sittah
The reason, according to our view, is that:
◈ The book contains not only marfū‘ Ahadith (narrations traced back to the Prophet ﷺ), but also:
• Athār of the Companions (sayings and actions of the Ṣaḥābah),
• Athār of the Tābi‘īn (sayings of the Tābi‘īn), and
• Statements of Imām Mālik himself in abundance.
✿ In contrast, the distinctive feature and primary focus of the Ṣiḥāḥ Sittah is:
• To include only the Ahadith of the Prophet ﷺ,
• And not the sayings or actions of the Tābi‘īn, their followers, or other scholars.
Conclusion
✿ Due to this difference in style and content, Al-Muwaṭṭa’ of Imām Mālik was not included in the Ṣiḥāḥ Sittah,
✿ However, its scholarly value is in no way lesser than those books.
ھٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
