Derived from: Fatāwā Amnapūrī by Shaykh Ghulām Mustafa Ẓahīr Amnapūrī
What do scholars say about Khabar al-Wāḥid (a solitary narration)?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʾAmma baʿd!
◈ When a Khabar al-Wāḥid (solitary report) has an authentic chain, it is binding proof (ḥujjah) in Islam. It cannot be rejected simply because it is a solitary report.
◈ Khabar al-Wāḥid is considered a source of evidence in beliefs (ʿaqīdah), legal rulings (aḥkām), Sunnah, and virtues (faḍā’il).
◈ There is consensus (ijmāʿ) among the Imams and Hadith scholars on accepting Khabar al-Wāḥid; no reliable scholar has rejected it outright.
❀ ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) narrates:
“While the people of Qubā’ were performing the Fajr prayer, a man came and said: Indeed, last night revelation came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanding that the Qiblah be changed to the Kaʿbah. So turn to it.”
They had been facing towards Shām, and upon hearing this, they turned their faces toward the Kaʿbah.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 403, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 526)
✔ This entire change in a fundamental act of worship (Qiblah) was made based on a solitary report.
❀ Imām Abū ʿAwānah (رحمه الله) (d. 316 AH) said:
“This ḥadīth is among those that are used as evidence to establish the authority of Khabar al-Wāḥid.”
(Mustakhraj Abī ʿAwānah, under ḥadīth 1168)
❀ ʿAllāmah Ibn al-ʿArabī (رحمه الله) (d. 543 AH) said:
“This hadith proves the acceptance of solitary reports in matters of religion. And this is the consensus of the Muslims.”
(al-Masālik Sharḥ Muwaṭṭa’ Mālik, 3/346)
◈ An authentic solitary narration (Khabar al-Wāḥid) is a valid and binding source of evidence.
◈ It is accepted in all areas of religion, including beliefs and rulings.
◈ Classical scholars and Hadith Imams have affirmed this, and the Ummah has a consensus on its validity.
هٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
❖ Question:
What do scholars say about Khabar al-Wāḥid (a solitary narration)?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʾAmma baʿd!
✿ The Authority of Khabar al-Wāḥid:
◈ When a Khabar al-Wāḥid (solitary report) has an authentic chain, it is binding proof (ḥujjah) in Islam. It cannot be rejected simply because it is a solitary report.
◈ Khabar al-Wāḥid is considered a source of evidence in beliefs (ʿaqīdah), legal rulings (aḥkām), Sunnah, and virtues (faḍā’il).
◈ There is consensus (ijmāʿ) among the Imams and Hadith scholars on accepting Khabar al-Wāḥid; no reliable scholar has rejected it outright.
✿ Evidence from the Companions:
❀ ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) narrates:
“While the people of Qubā’ were performing the Fajr prayer, a man came and said: Indeed, last night revelation came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanding that the Qiblah be changed to the Kaʿbah. So turn to it.”
They had been facing towards Shām, and upon hearing this, they turned their faces toward the Kaʿbah.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 403, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 526)
✔ This entire change in a fundamental act of worship (Qiblah) was made based on a solitary report.
✿ Scholarly Endorsements:
❀ Imām Abū ʿAwānah (رحمه الله) (d. 316 AH) said:
“This ḥadīth is among those that are used as evidence to establish the authority of Khabar al-Wāḥid.”
(Mustakhraj Abī ʿAwānah, under ḥadīth 1168)
❀ ʿAllāmah Ibn al-ʿArabī (رحمه الله) (d. 543 AH) said:
“This hadith proves the acceptance of solitary reports in matters of religion. And this is the consensus of the Muslims.”
(al-Masālik Sharḥ Muwaṭṭa’ Mālik, 3/346)
Summary:
◈ An authentic solitary narration (Khabar al-Wāḥid) is a valid and binding source of evidence.
◈ It is accepted in all areas of religion, including beliefs and rulings.
◈ Classical scholars and Hadith Imams have affirmed this, and the Ummah has a consensus on its validity.
هٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
