This excerpt is taken from the book of Fazilat-ul-Sheikh Abdul Salam Rustami From Denial of Hadith to Denial of Quran.
Twelfth Doubt: The Hadiths are Ahad Reports
According to the Pervezis, all hadiths are ahad reports. They do not consider them mutawatir or widely known. They say that ahad reports are not to be believed, so how can they become a proof?
Answer:
This doubt is similar to the previous doubts, only differing in expression. The answer is that in the Holy Quran, many events have been established through ahad reports.
Proof of the Authority of Ahad Reports from the Quran
The Divine command is:
لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ فَقَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مَا لَكُمْ مِنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُ
"Indeed, We sent Noah to his people, and he said: O my people! Worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him."
Reference: (7-Al-A'raf:59)
Also He said:
وَإِلَىٰ عَادٍ أَخَاهُمْ هُودًا ۚ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مَا لَكُمْ مِنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُ
"And to the people of 'Aad, their brother Hud. He said: O my people! Worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him."
Reference: (7-Al-A'raf:65)
Also He said:
وَإِلَىٰ ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَالِحًا ۚ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مَا لَكُمْ مِنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُ
"And to Thamud, their brother Salih. He said: O my people! Worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him."
Reference: (7-Al-A'raf:73)
Also He said:
وَلُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ
"And Lot, when he said to his people."
Reference: (7-Al-A'raf:80)
Also He said:
وَإِلَىٰ مَدْيَنَ أَخَاهُمْ شُعَيْبًا ۚ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مَا لَكُمْ مِنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُ
"And to the people of Midian, their brother Shu'ayb. He said: O my people! Worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him."
Reference: (7-Al-A'raf:85)
From the above verses, it is established that these Prophets, peace be upon them, individually invited their respective peoples to monotheism, and when the people rejected them, Allah sent punishment upon them. These verses are certain proof of the authority of solitary reports (khabar wahid). It is thus proven that rejecting a solitary report is a cause of divine punishment. No one can object here that this solitary report is authoritative only because of the prophethood and messengership of the Prophet, and not fundamentally authoritative. Because the Qur'an does not say that we accept the report of this Prophet and Messenger because of his prophethood or messengership; rather, the Prophets are called sincere and trustworthy, meaning the solitary reporter is trustworthy and sincere, therefore his report is acceptable and authoritative.
The Qur'an also mentions the solitary report of an ordinary person besides the Prophet and declares it authoritative for the people.
1. As it is said:
وَجَاءَ مِنْ أَقْصَى الْمَدِينَةِ رَجُلٌ يَسْعَىٰ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اتَّبِعُوا الْمُرْسَلِينَ ﴿٢٠﴾
"And from the farthest part of the city, a man came running. He said: O my people! Obey the messengers."
Reference: (36-Ya-Sin:20)
So when the people did not obey this man and killed him, Allah sent punishment upon them:
2. Also He said:
إِنْ كَانَتْ إِلَّا صَيْحَةً وَاحِدَةً فَإِذَا هُمْ خَامِدُونَ
"The punishment was but one blast, and they became extinguished."
Reference: (36-Ya-Sin:29)
وَجَاءَ رَجُلٌ مِّنْ أَقْصَى الْمَدِينَةِ يَسْعَىٰ قَالَ يَا مُوسَىٰ إِنَّ الْمَلَأَ يَأْتَمِرُونَ بِكَ لِيَقْتُلُوكَ فَاخْرُجْ إِنِّي لَكَ مِنَ النَّاصِحِينَ ﴿٢٠﴾ فَخَرَجَ مِنْهَا خَائِفًا يَتَرَقَّبُ
"And from the farthest part of the city, a man came running. He said: O Moses! The chiefs of the people are plotting against you to kill you, so leave here. Indeed, I am of the sincere advisors to you." So he (Moses) left, fearing and awaiting.
Reference: (28-Al-Qasas:20-21)
Here also, only one person informed Moses, and he believed his words and acted accordingly, thus escaping from the oppressive people.
3. And He said:
إِنَّ أَبِي يَدْعُوكَ لِيَجْزِيَكَ أَجْرَ مَا سَقَيْتَ لَنَا
"My father invites you to pay back for the water which you caused to be watered for us."
Reference: (28-Al-Qasas:25)
Moses, upon hearing this girl’s words, went to her father. This indicates that the solitary report of a woman is also accepted and approved alongside that of a man.
4. Similarly, He said:
وَقَالَ الَّذِي آمَنَ يَا قَوْمِ اتَّبِعُونِ أَهْدِكُمْ سَبِيلَ الرَّشَادِ
"And the believing man said: O my people! Follow me; I will guide you to the way of right guidance."
Reference: (40-Al-Mu’min:38)
This verse mentions the man who believed in Moses and then invited his people in a very wise manner. The details of this invitation are found in Surah Al-Mu’min, verses 38 to 45.
And finally, He said:
فَسَتَذْكُرُونَ مَا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ
"You will soon remember what I say to you."
Reference: (40-Ghafir:44)
This refers to the punishment that comes as a consequence of rejecting the truth. Then Allah mentioned the outcome of this man and the people, saying:
فَوَقَاهُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِ مَا مَكَرُوا ۖ وَحَاقَ بِآلِ فِرْعَوْنَ سُوءُ الْعَذَابِ ﴿٤٥﴾
"So Allah saved him from the evils of that affair, and the people of Pharaoh were seized by a severe punishment."
Reference: (40-Al-Mu’min:45)
From this, it is clear that Allah saved this man, but the people did not obey him and thus suffered punishment.
5. Allah said:
وَمَا كَانَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لِيَنفِرُوا كَافَّةً ۚ فَلَوْلَا نَفَرَ مِن كُلِّ فِرْقَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ طَائِفَةٌ لِّيَتَفَقَّهُوا فِي الدِّينِ وَلِيُنذِرُوا قَوْمَهُمْ إِذَا رَجَعُوا إِلَيْهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَحْذَرُونَ ﴿١٢٢﴾
"And it is not for the believers to go forth all at once. For there should separate from every division of them a group to obtain understanding in the religion and warn their people when they return to them that they might be cautious."
Reference: (9-At-Tawbah:122)
Exegetes have written that the literal meaning of (taifah) is that even one person can be called a group, meaning one person acquires knowledge and then conveys it to his people, and the people accept his words and avoid disbelief. This clarifies that the words of a just scholar are authoritative.
6. Allah said:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن جَاءَكُمْ فَاسِقٌ بِنَبَإٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوا
"O you who have believed, if a wicked person comes to you with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful."
Reference: (49-Al-Hujurat:6)
In this verse, the meaning of the word "wicked" is the opposite: if a just person brings information, accept it without investigation; and the compatible meaning is that even the information of a wicked person is credible after investigation. Both meanings indicate the authority of solitary reports.
Proof of the Authority of Solitary Hadiths from Hadiths
➊ Before the command of changing the Qibla was revealed, people were offering the Fajr prayer in Masjid Quba facing Bayt al-Maqdis. Then a companion came and informed them about the change of Qibla, so they turned their direction towards the Baytullah during the prayer itself.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Prayer, Chapter on the Qibla and those who did not follow it, Hadith: 403
This was also a single report which the people of Quba acted upon, and the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ did not criticize them, therefore a single report is a valid proof.
➋ Anas رضي الله عنه narrates that before the prohibition of alcohol, I was giving wine to Abu Ubaidah, Abu Talhah, and Ubayy ibn Ka'b رضي الله عنهم, when a person came and informed that wine has been prohibited. Upon hearing this, Abu Talhah رضي الله عنه said: Anas! Get up and pour out the wine, so I poured it out.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Drinks, Chapter on the prohibition of wine, Hadith: 5582
➌ The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, during Hajj at the plain of Arafat, ordered Rabi'ah al-Ansari رضي الله عنه who then told the people that he was sent by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. His command is that the entire plain of Arafat is the standing place. Every person should stand in their own place. The companions رضي الله عنهم accepted this single person's announcement as proof.
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawood, Manasik, Chapter on the place of standing at Arafat, Hadith 1919 and Jami' at-Tirmidhi, Hajj, Chapter on standing at Arafat, Hadith: 883
We suffice with these incidents, otherwise there are numerous incidents mentioned in the Ahadith where a single report was relied upon and legal rulings were established based on it.
The Authority of Singular Reports in the Era of the Companions
Many incidents occurred during the era of the Companions in which all the Companions رضي الله عنهم agreed upon the report of one Companion, because for them a solitary report was proof. Some incidents are presented as examples.
➊ At the time of the burial of the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, there was an issue about where he should be buried. Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه narrated a hadith:
ما قبض الله نبيا إلا فى الموضع الذى يحب أن يدفن فيه
"Allah Almighty takes the soul of the Prophet at the place where He wishes him to be buried."
All the Companions رضي الله عنهم accepted the solitary report of Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه and buried the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم in the chamber of Umm al-Mu'minin Aisha رضي الله عنها because he passed away there.
Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Al-Jana'iz, Chapter: Where the Prophets are Buried, Hadith: 1018, and Sunan Ibn Majah, Al-Jana'iz, Chapter: Mention of His Death and Burial, Hadith: 1628
➋ At the time of the death of the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, there was a disagreement regarding the caliphate. Abu Bakr and Umar رضي الله عنهما both went to Saqifah Bani Sa'idah where the Ansar had gathered. After listening to the discussion, Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه narrated a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم:
الأئمة من قريش
"The Imam (Caliph) will be from the Quraysh family."
Reference: Fath al-Bari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari: 30/7-32, under Hadith: 3668
Accordingly, all the Companions, both Muhajirin and Ansar, agreed upon this hadith and appointed Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه as the Caliph.
➌ After the death of the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, Sayyiduna Abbas and Fatimah رضي الله عنهما came to Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه demanding inheritance. He narrated a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم:
لا نورث ما تركناه صدقة
"We do not leave inheritance; whatever we leave behind is charity."
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Al-Maghazi, Chapter: Battle of Khaybar, Hadith: 4241, and Sahih Muslim, Al-Jihad, Chapter: The Prophet's Saying: We Do Not Leave Inheritance, Hadith: 1758
These incidents prove that the Companions رضي الله عنهم considered solitary reports as proof. The reason these solitary reports are proof is not because they were narrated by one Companion, but because they were narrated by a just and pious person, whether he was a Companion or someone else.
In the era of the Tabi‘in, generally, there was a Muhaddith in every city who used to give fatwas. People accepted his fatwas due to his scholarly integrity.
The conclusion is that the Quran, Hadith, and the practice of the Salaf clearly show that solitary reports are proof in religion.
Some Companions demanded testimony for a hadith; for example, Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه requested testimony along with the narration of Mughira bin Shu’ba رضي الله عنه regarding inheritance, and Muhammad bin Salamah رضي الله عنه supported it.
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawood Al-Fara'id, Chapter: Regarding the Grandmother, Hadith: 2894, and Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Al-Fara'id, Chapter: What Has Been Related About the Inheritance of the Grandmother, Hadith: 2100
Similarly, Umar رضي الله عنه requested testimony regarding the narration of Abu Musa Ash'ari رضي الله عنه about seeking permission, and Abu Sa'id Khudri رضي الله عنه supported him.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Al-Buyu', Chapter: Going Out for Trade, Hadith: 2062
So, in such incidents, requesting testimony does not mean that they did not accept solitary reports, but they did so for more confirmation and emphasis, and this is a precautionary aspect.
