Source: Fatawa Ilmiyyah (Tawdih al-Ahkam), Volume 2, Page 411
Is the book “Al-Khayrat al-Hisan” authored by the renowned hadith scholar Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (رحمه الله)? Does this book include sayings and incidents related to Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله)? Since some Deobandi scholars have quoted from this book in discussion, and we were unaware of it, please provide clarification.
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd!
The book “Al-Khayrat al-Hisan fi Manaqib al-Imam al-A‘zam Abi Hanifah al-Nu‘man” is not authored by Hafiz Ahmad ibn Ali ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani (d. 852 AH).
Rather, its author is:
Shihab al-Din Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Hajar al-Haytami al-Makki al-Sa‘di al-Ansari al-Shafi‘i, also known as Abu al-‘Abbas (d. 973 AH).
Imam Mahmood Shukri al-Alusi al-Baghdadi (d. 1342 AH) commented:
“Most of the books of Ibn Hajar (al-Makki) are filled with lies, fabrications, misleading statements, baseless views, and calls towards innovations and misguidance.”
(Anwar Rahmaniyyah, translation of Ghayat al-Amani, Vol. 2, p. 433)
➤ Umar Rida Kahhala wrote:
“Jamal al-Din Abu al-Ma‘ali – historian, writer, linguist, and scholar of religion...”
(Mu‘jam al-Mu’allifin, Vol. 3, p. 810, Entry 16603)
➤ Khayr al-Din al-Zirikli wrote:
“Historian, scholar of literature and religion, reformist preacher; he refuted the innovators, for which many opposed him.”
(Al-A‘lam, Vol. 7, p. 172)
The book cites Hadiths and reports without proper chains of narration, often using vague phrases like “qala fulan” and “ruwiya ‘an fulan”.
This style is condemned by Hadith scholars, especially for narrations without verification.
Example 1:
"Ibn al-Mubarak said: If opinion is needed, then the opinions of Malik, Sufyan, and Abu Hanifa are to be relied upon; among them, Abu Hanifa is the most learned, insightful, and deeply understanding of Fiqh.”
(Al-Khayrat al-Hisan, p. 45; Sartaj al-Muhaddithin, p. 157)
Critique:
This narration appears in Tārīkh Baghdād (Vol. 13, p. 343) through Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Mughlis al-Hamani, about whom:
➤ No scholar has authenticated this narrator.
Example 2:
“Waki‘ said: I have not seen anyone more learned or who prays better than Abu Hanifa.”
(Al-Khayrat al-Hisan, p. 48; Sartaj al-Muhaddithin, p. 163)
Critique:
This also appears in Tārīkh Baghdād (Vol. 13, p. 345) via Ahmad ibn al-Salt al-Hamani, who has also been declared a liar by Hadith scholars.
These are only two examples. The entire book Al-Khayrat al-Hisan is filled with fabricated, baseless, and unverified reports.
There are three conditions for a book to be used as a valid reference:
If even one condition is missing, the citation is unacceptable and rejected.
Most narrations in Ibn Hajar al-Makki’s (the innovator) Al-Khayrat al-Hisan regarding Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله) are unreliable, fabricated, and without basis.
Hence, this book cannot be used as a proof in scholarly discourse.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
❖ Question:
Is the book “Al-Khayrat al-Hisan” authored by the renowned hadith scholar Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (رحمه الله)? Does this book include sayings and incidents related to Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله)? Since some Deobandi scholars have quoted from this book in discussion, and we were unaware of it, please provide clarification.
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd!
❖ Who is the Author of
The book “Al-Khayrat al-Hisan fi Manaqib al-Imam al-A‘zam Abi Hanifah al-Nu‘man” is not authored by Hafiz Ahmad ibn Ali ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani (d. 852 AH).
Rather, its author is:
Shihab al-Din Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Hajar al-Haytami al-Makki al-Sa‘di al-Ansari al-Shafi‘i, also known as Abu al-‘Abbas (d. 973 AH).
❖ Comment by Imam Alusi (رحمه الله) on Ibn Hajar al-Makki:
Imam Mahmood Shukri al-Alusi al-Baghdadi (d. 1342 AH) commented:
“Most of the books of Ibn Hajar (al-Makki) are filled with lies, fabrications, misleading statements, baseless views, and calls towards innovations and misguidance.”
(Anwar Rahmaniyyah, translation of Ghayat al-Amani, Vol. 2, p. 433)
❖ Praise for Imam Alusi (رحمه الله):
➤ Umar Rida Kahhala wrote:
“Jamal al-Din Abu al-Ma‘ali – historian, writer, linguist, and scholar of religion...”
(Mu‘jam al-Mu’allifin, Vol. 3, p. 810, Entry 16603)
➤ Khayr al-Din al-Zirikli wrote:
“Historian, scholar of literature and religion, reformist preacher; he refuted the innovators, for which many opposed him.”
(Al-A‘lam, Vol. 7, p. 172)
❖ Key Points on the Book
➊ Omission of Chains and Unreliable Style:
The book cites Hadiths and reports without proper chains of narration, often using vague phrases like “qala fulan” and “ruwiya ‘an fulan”.
This style is condemned by Hadith scholars, especially for narrations without verification.
➋ Fabricated and Baseless Narrations:
Example 1:
"Ibn al-Mubarak said: If opinion is needed, then the opinions of Malik, Sufyan, and Abu Hanifa are to be relied upon; among them, Abu Hanifa is the most learned, insightful, and deeply understanding of Fiqh.”
(Al-Khayrat al-Hisan, p. 45; Sartaj al-Muhaddithin, p. 157)
Critique:
This narration appears in Tārīkh Baghdād (Vol. 13, p. 343) through Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Mughlis al-Hamani, about whom:
- Imam Ibn ‘Adi said: “I have not seen anyone more shameless among the liars.”
(Al-Kamil, Vol. 1, p. 202) - Imam al-Daraqutni said: “He fabricates Hadith.”
(Kitab al-Du‘afa’ wa al-Matrukin, p. 123, Entry 59)
➤ No scholar has authenticated this narrator.
Example 2:
“Waki‘ said: I have not seen anyone more learned or who prays better than Abu Hanifa.”
(Al-Khayrat al-Hisan, p. 48; Sartaj al-Muhaddithin, p. 163)
Critique:
This also appears in Tārīkh Baghdād (Vol. 13, p. 345) via Ahmad ibn al-Salt al-Hamani, who has also been declared a liar by Hadith scholars.
These are only two examples. The entire book Al-Khayrat al-Hisan is filled with fabricated, baseless, and unverified reports.
➌ Conditions for Using a Source as Proof:
There are three conditions for a book to be used as a valid reference:
- The author must be trustworthy (thiqah) and truthful (saduq).
- The book must be authentically attributed to the author.
- The chain from the author to the original narrator or speaker must be Sahih (authentic) or Hasan (good).
If even one condition is missing, the citation is unacceptable and rejected.
➍ Content and Reliability of the Book:
Most narrations in Ibn Hajar al-Makki’s (the innovator) Al-Khayrat al-Hisan regarding Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله) are unreliable, fabricated, and without basis.
Hence, this book cannot be used as a proof in scholarly discourse.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
