Who Are Included Among the Majority (Jumhoor) of Scholars and Hadith Critics?

Authored by: Hafiz Zubair Ali Zai (رحمه الله)

Understanding "Jumhoor" (Majority) in Hadith Sciences​

❖ Question:​

In many of your writings, you frequently mention the term "Jumhoor." Who is meant by the "Jumhoor"? According to you, which scholars and Hadith critics are included in the Jumhoor?
(Question by: Abdul Mateen – Australia)

❖ Answer:​

In the context of the Asma' al-Rijal (science of narrators), Jumhoor refers to the majority of trustworthy, reliable, and soundly believing scholars and Hadith critics. For example, when there is one opinion against two opposing it, the two represent the Jumhoor.

To explain this with an example:
Fulayh ibn Sulayman al-Madani (رحمه الله), a key narrator in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, was criticized by the following scholars:
❀ Yahya ibn Ma'in
❀ Abu Hatim al-Razi
❀ Al-Nasa'i
❀ Abu Ahmad al-Hakim al-Kabir
❀ Ali ibn al-Madini
❀ Abu Kamil al-Muzaffar ibn Mudrak
❀ Abu Zur'ah al-Razi
❀ Al-Aqeeli
❀ Ibn al-Jawzi
❀ Al-Bayhaqi

(Total: 10 scholars)

However, the criticism attributed to Imam Abu Dawood is not authentically proven; thus, it is incorrect to cite it.

The following scholars have authenticated Fulayh ibn Sulayman, declaring him trustworthy, reliable, and acceptable:
◈ Imam Bukhari
◈ Imam Muslim
◈ Al-Bayhaqi
◈ Ibn Khuzaymah
◈ Al-Tirmidhi
◈ Al-Hakim
◈ Ibn 'Adi
◈ Al-Dhahabi
◈ Ibn Hibban
◈ Al-Daraqutni
◈ Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani
◈ Ibn al-Jarood
◈ Abu 'Awanah
◈ Abu Nu'aym al-Isbahani
◈ Al-Diya al-Maqdisi
◈ Al-Baghawi
◈ Ibn Shahin, and others رحمهم الله

(Total: 17 scholars)

Clarification:Al-Bayhaqi declared one of Fulayh’s narrations as "authentic" and another as "rejected." This reconciliation is possible by stating:

"He is authentic in narrations except where specific criticism is mentioned."

Thus, according to the Jumhoor (majority) of Hadith scholars, Fulayh ibn Sulayman is trustworthy and acceptable (Sahih or Hasan Hadith narrator), and the criticisms against him are rejected.

✿ Who Are the "Jumhoor" According to Hafiz Zubair Ali Zai?​

According to me (Hafiz Zubair Ali Zai رحمه الله), the Salaf al-Salih (righteous predecessors) are divided into various generations:

❀ The Sahabah (Companions)
❀ The Tabi'in (Successors)
❀ The Tabi' al-Tabi'in (Successors of the Successors)
❀ The scholars up to the 6th century AH during the Hadith compilation period, and until the 9th century AH among the scholars of Islam.

After the era of the Sahabah, for an individual to be included among the Jumhoor, he must be:

✔ Sound in belief (Sahih al-'Aqidah)
✔ Trustworthy and reliable (Thiqat wa Saduq) according to the majority.

Note:
➤ The weak, criticized, or innovators and misguided individuals are never included among the Jumhoor.
➤ Their existence is regarded as irrelevant in the scholarly consensus.

🗓 Date: 18 August 2013