❀ Origin and Background of Labeling Imām Ibn Ḥibbān as Lenient (Mutasāhil) ❀
Question:
Who was the first to describe Imām Ibn Ḥibbān رحمه الله as Mutasāhil (lenient) in the authentication of narrations?
Answer by Fadhilat al-ʿĀlim Ḥāfiẓ Khuḍr Ḥayāt ḥafiẓahullāh:
It is difficult to name a specific individual who first labeled Imām Ibn Ḥibbān as Mutasāhil.
However, this attribution gained prominence during the era of Ibn al-Ṣalāḥ (d. 643 AH) through formal academic discourse.
After that, scholars across various generations addressed and expanded upon this matter.
Ḥāfiẓ Ibn al-Ṣalāḥ رحمه الله, in his renowned work Maʿrifah Anwāʿ ʿUlūm al-Ḥadīth, commented on the authentication practices of Imām al-Ḥākim and Ibn Ḥibbān:
"Al-Ḥākim applies broad criteria in considering a narration Ṣaḥīḥ and is lenient in adhering to those conditions, and the same applies, nearly to the same extent, to Ibn Ḥibbān's Ṣaḥīḥ."
(Maʿrifah Anwāʿ ʿUlūm al-Ḥadīth, p. 22)
This statement laid the foundational framework for later scholars and commentators to elaborate further on Ibn Ḥibbān’s leniency in authenticating Hadiths.
Ḥāfiẓ al-Mundhirī (d. 656 AH), in his book al-Targhīb wa al-Tarhīb, also hinted at the leniency of both Ibn Ḥibbān and al-Ḥākim.
He clarified that:
"I quote from Ibn Ḥibbān and al-Ḥākim besides Ṣaḥīḥayn, and wherever necessary, I point out their leniency so that the reader can discern the true status of the narration."
(al-Targhīb wa al-Tarhīb, 1/38)
Some later works mention that Imām al-Ḥāzmī (d. 584 AH) pointed out the leniency of al-Ḥākim and Ibn Ḥibbān.
However, upon closer examination, his primary comments relate more specifically to al-Ḥākim.
In fact, al-Ḥāzmī held Ibn Ḥibbān in higher regard, considering him more firm and cautious in the science of Hadith than al-Ḥākim.
Prominent scholars such as:
—all engaged deeply with the issue of Ibn Ḥibbān’s leniency, offering analytical critiques on specific narrations and narrators he authenticated.
Later, Shaykh al-Albānī رحمه الله also discussed this issue in detail and even included Ḥāfiẓ al-Mundhirī among those scholars known for some degree of leniency.
◈ The first formal mention of Ibn Ḥibbān being Mutasāhil appears in the writings of Ibn al-Ṣalāḥ, who laid the methodological basis for this critique.
◈ Subsequent scholars expanded upon it, offering both critique and context.
◈ Imām al-Ḥāzmī is sometimes mentioned in this context, but his actual statements were mainly about al-Ḥākim, and he saw Ibn Ḥibbān as stronger in Hadith sciences.
◈ The discussion evolved over centuries, with notable contributions from Ḥāfiẓ al-Dhahabī, Ibn Ḥajar, and Shaykh al-Albānī.
Question:
Who was the first to describe Imām Ibn Ḥibbān رحمه الله as Mutasāhil (lenient) in the authentication of narrations?
Answer by Fadhilat al-ʿĀlim Ḥāfiẓ Khuḍr Ḥayāt ḥafiẓahullāh:
➊ No Single Individual Can Be Pinpointed with Certainty:
It is difficult to name a specific individual who first labeled Imām Ibn Ḥibbān as Mutasāhil.
However, this attribution gained prominence during the era of Ibn al-Ṣalāḥ (d. 643 AH) through formal academic discourse.
After that, scholars across various generations addressed and expanded upon this matter.
➋ Position of Ḥāfiẓ Ibn al-Ṣalāḥ:
Ḥāfiẓ Ibn al-Ṣalāḥ رحمه الله, in his renowned work Maʿrifah Anwāʿ ʿUlūm al-Ḥadīth, commented on the authentication practices of Imām al-Ḥākim and Ibn Ḥibbān:
"Al-Ḥākim applies broad criteria in considering a narration Ṣaḥīḥ and is lenient in adhering to those conditions, and the same applies, nearly to the same extent, to Ibn Ḥibbān's Ṣaḥīḥ."
(Maʿrifah Anwāʿ ʿUlūm al-Ḥadīth, p. 22)
This statement laid the foundational framework for later scholars and commentators to elaborate further on Ibn Ḥibbān’s leniency in authenticating Hadiths.
➌ Reference by Ḥāfiẓ al-Mundhirī:
Ḥāfiẓ al-Mundhirī (d. 656 AH), in his book al-Targhīb wa al-Tarhīb, also hinted at the leniency of both Ibn Ḥibbān and al-Ḥākim.
He clarified that:
"I quote from Ibn Ḥibbān and al-Ḥākim besides Ṣaḥīḥayn, and wherever necessary, I point out their leniency so that the reader can discern the true status of the narration."
(al-Targhīb wa al-Tarhīb, 1/38)
➍ Reference to Imām al-Ḥāzmī:
Some later works mention that Imām al-Ḥāzmī (d. 584 AH) pointed out the leniency of al-Ḥākim and Ibn Ḥibbān.
However, upon closer examination, his primary comments relate more specifically to al-Ḥākim.
In fact, al-Ḥāzmī held Ibn Ḥibbān in higher regard, considering him more firm and cautious in the science of Hadith than al-Ḥākim.
➎ Remarks by Later Scholars:
Prominent scholars such as:
- Ḥāfiẓ al-Dhahabī
- Ḥāfiẓ al-ʿIrāqī
- Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī
—all engaged deeply with the issue of Ibn Ḥibbān’s leniency, offering analytical critiques on specific narrations and narrators he authenticated.
Later, Shaykh al-Albānī رحمه الله also discussed this issue in detail and even included Ḥāfiẓ al-Mundhirī among those scholars known for some degree of leniency.
✔ Summary:
◈ The first formal mention of Ibn Ḥibbān being Mutasāhil appears in the writings of Ibn al-Ṣalāḥ, who laid the methodological basis for this critique.
◈ Subsequent scholars expanded upon it, offering both critique and context.
◈ Imām al-Ḥāzmī is sometimes mentioned in this context, but his actual statements were mainly about al-Ḥākim, and he saw Ibn Ḥibbān as stronger in Hadith sciences.
◈ The discussion evolved over centuries, with notable contributions from Ḥāfiẓ al-Dhahabī, Ibn Ḥajar, and Shaykh al-Albānī.
