Saturday, March 23, 2013

Muhammad bin Ishaaq bin Yasaar




Name:

مُحَمَّدُ بنُ إِسْحَاقَ بنِ يَسَارِ بنِ خِيَارٍ الأَخْبَارِيُّ المَدَنِيُّ أَبُو بَكْرٍ - وَقِيْلَ: أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ - القُرَشِيُّ، مَوْلَى قَيْسِ بنِ مَخْرَمَةَ بنِ المُطَّلِبِ بنِ عَبْدِ مَنَافٍ -رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ- صَاحِبُ (السِّيْرَةِ النَّبَوِيَّةِ) (إمام المغازي)

Muhammad bin Ishaaq bin Yasaar bin Khiyaar al-Akhbaari al-Madani Abu Bakr – and it is said: Abu Abdullah – al-Qurashi the Mawla of Qays bin Makhramah bin al-Muttalib bin Abd Manaaf – radiallah anhu – The Author of Prophetic Biography (An Imaam in the field of Al-Maghaazi)

Tabaqah: 5 – From the Minor Taabi’een

Death: 150 H and it is said after that.

Narrated by: Al-Bukhaari in Ta’leeq form – Muslim – Abu Dawood – Tirmidhi – Nasaa’ee – Ibn Maajah

Teachers: Abaan bin Saalih, Abaan bin Uthmaan bin Affaan, Ibraaheem bin Uqbah, Ibraaheem bin Muhaajir, Ishaaq bin Yasaar (his Father), Ismaa’eel bin Umayyah, Ismaa’eel bin Abi Hakeem, Ayyoob bin Moosa al-Qurashi, Ayyoob as-Sakhtiyaani, Bukayr bin Abdullah bin al-Ashaj, Thawr bin Yazeed al-Rahbi, Hafs bin Ubaydullah bin Anas bin Maalik, Humayd at-Ta’weel, Dawood bin al-Husayn, Rooh bin al-Qaasim, Ziyaad bin Abi Ziyaad, Saalim al-Makki, Sa’d bin Ibraaheem bin Abdur Rahmaan bin Awf, Sa’eed bin Abi Sa’eed al-Maqburi, Sa’eed bin Abi Hind, Shu’bah bin al-Hajjaaj, Saalih bin Kaysaan, Aasim bin Umar bin Qataadah, Talhah bin Naafi, Ubaadah bin al-Waleed bin Ubaadah bin as-Saamit, Abu az-Zinaad Abdullah bin Dhakwaan, Abdullah bin Abi Salamah, Abdullah bin Tawoos, Abdur Rahmaan bin al-Aswad bin Yazeed an-Nakha’ee, Abdur Rahmaan bin Hurmuz al-A’raj, Ubaydullah bin Abdullah bin Umar bin al-Khattaab, Ataa bin Abi Ribaah, Ikrimah bin Khaalid al-Makhzoomi, Amr bin Shu’ayb, Amr bin Abi Amr Mawla al-Muttalib, Amr bin Maymoon bin Mihraan, Al-Alaa bin Abdur Rahmaan, Al-Qaasim bin Muhammad bin Abu Bakr as-Siddeeque, Muhammad bin Abi Umaamah bin Sahl bin Hunayf, Muhammad bin as-Saa’ib al-Kalbi, Muhammad bin Amr bin Ataa, Muhammad bin Muslim bin Shihaab az-Zuhri, Al-Muttalib bin Abdullah bin Qays bin Makhramah, Makhool ash-Shaami, Naafi Mawla Ibn Umar, Hishaam bin Urwah, Wahb bin Kaysaan, Yahya bin Sa’eed al-Ansaari, Yahya bin Urwah bin az-Zubayr, Yazeed bin Abi Habeeb al-Misri, Hajjaaj bin Artaat, Hammaad bin Salamah bin Deenaar al-Basri, Zayd bin Aslam al-Qurashi, Sufyaan bin Sa’eed bin Masrooq ath-Thawree, Shareek bin Abdullah an-Nakha’ee, Abdul Azeez bin Muhammad ad-Daraawardi, Uthmaan bin Urwah bin az-Zubayr, Umar bin Ali bin al-Husayn bin Ali bin Abi Taalib, Fudayl bin Ayyaadh, Muhammad bin Sa’eed bin al-Musayyab, Ibn Akhi az-Zuhri, Mis’ar bin Kidaam, and many others.

Students: Ibraaheem bin Sa’d bin Ibraaheem bin Abdur Rahmaan bin Awf, Jareer bin Haazim, Jareer bin Abdul Humayd, Hafs bin Ghiyaath, Hammaad bin Zayd, Hammaad bin Salamah, Sufyaan ath-Thawree, Sufyaan Ibn Uyaynah, Shareek bin Abdullah, Shu’bah bin al-Hajjaaj, Abdullah bin Idrees, Abdullah bin Awn, Abdullah bin Numayr, Abdul A’la bin Abdul A’la, Abdul Azeez bin Muhammad ad-Daraawardi, Muhammad bin Abi Adee, Muhammad bin Fudayl, Hushaym bin Bushayr, Abu Awaanah al-Waddaah bin Abdullah, Yahya bin Zakariyyah bin Abi Zaa’idah, Yahya bin Sa’eed al-Ansaari, Yazeed bin Abi Habeeb al-Misri, Yazeed bin Zuray’, Yazeed bin Haaroon, Ibraaheem bin Tahmaan al-Harwi, Eesa bin Yoonus bin Abi Ishaaq as-Sabi’ee, Fudayl bin Ayyaadh, Nooh bin Abi Maryam and many others.

Status: Thiqah, Mudallis

Opinions of Ahl ul-Jarh wat Ta’deel:

Those who Praised him:

1-    Imaam Shu’bah bin al-Hajjaaj said: “Muhammad bin Ishaaq is Sadooq in Hadeeth”
[Al-Jarh wat Ta’deel: 7/192, Chain Saheeh]

He also said: “Muhammad bin Ishaaq is the Leader of Muhadditheen”
[Kitaab al-Jarh wat Ta’deel: 7/192, Chain Hasan]

In another narration, Imaam Shu’bah said: “He is Ameer ul-Muhadditheen (Leader of Muhadditheen) due to his Memory”
[Juzz al-Qira’ah lil Bukhaari: 146, Chain Saheeh & Taareekh al-Kabeer by al-Bukhaari: 1/401]

At another place, he said: “Ibn Ishaaq is Sayyid ul-Muhadditheen (The Master of Muhadditheen) because of his (great) memory”
[Taareekh Baghdaad: 1/228, Chain Saheeh]

He also said: “Muhammad bin Ishaaq is Ameer ul-Mu’mineen in Hadeeth”
[Taareekh Baghdaad: 1/228, Chain Saheeh]

2-    Al-Mufaddal bin Ghassaan al-Ghalaabi asked Imaam Yahya bin Ma’een about Muhammad bin Ishaaq, so he replied: “He was Thiqah, and he was Hasan ul-Hadeeth”
[Taareekh Baghdaad: 1/218 T. 51, Chain Saheeh]

In another narration, he said: “Muhammad bin Ishaaq was Thabat in Hadeeth”
[Kitaab ath-Thiqaat by Ibn Hibbaan: 7/383, Chain Saheeh]

Imaam Yahya ibn Ma’een was once asked: “If someone says that Muhammad bin Ishaaq is Hujjah, so will this person be on the truth?”He replied: “No, rather he was Thiqah”
[Taareekh Abu Zur’ah ad-Dimashqi: 1180, Chain Saheeh]

3-    Imaam Bukhaari has narrated many narrations of Muhammad bin Ishaaq in his Saheeh in Shawaahid and Mutaabi’aat, for example:
[H. 1468, 1774, 1838, 2192, 2383, 2384, 2525, 2709, 2718, 2990, 3140, 3856, 3949, 4028, 4086, 4127, 4138, 4259, 4358, 4366, 4931, 5527, 5934, 5992, 6795, 7126]

Haafidh Abu al-Fadl Muhammad bin Taahir al-Maqdisi (D. 507) said about one narration of Hammaad bin Salamah in Saheeh Bukhaari that: “He (Imaam Bukhaari) did not take from him in I’tibaar, rather he took narration from him in some places in Istish-haad (i.e. as Shawaahid) so to make clear that he is Thiqah”
[Shuroot al-A’immah as-Sittah: P. 18]

Having other evidences under consideration, this reference proves the Principle that the narrator from whom Imaam Bukhaari narrates in his Saheeh and does not make any Jarh on him then he is Thiqah or Sadooq according to him. Therefore, the narration of Muhammad bin Ishaaq by Imaam Bukhaari in Saheeh Bukhaari is a Tawtheeq from his side.
[Moreover, Also see: Juzz al-Qira’ah lil Bukhaari: 142-148]

Imaam Bukhaari said about one of the hadeeth narrated by Muhammad bin Ishaaq that: “The Hadeeth of Muhammad bin Ishaaq from as-Salt bin Abdullah bin Nawfal is Hasan Saheeh”
[Sunan at-Tirmidhi: 1742]

This clearly proves that Imaam Bukhaari considered Muhammad bin Ishaaq to be Thiqah and Sadooq. This is probably the reason why Zayla’ee al-Hanafi said about Ibn Ishaaq that: “The Majority has done his Tawtheeq, and among those who declared him Thiqah is al-Bukhaari, wallahu a’lam”
[Nasb ur-Rayaa: 4/7]

4-    Imaam Muslim bin al-Hajjaaj al-Neesaaboori rahimahullah has also narrated narrations from Muhammad bin Ishaaq in his Saheeh (in Shawaahid and Mutaabi’aat)
[See, Saheeh Muslim (480, 873, 1199, 1656, 1703)]

This proves that Ibn Ishaaq was Thiqah and Sadooq according to Imaam Muslim.

5-    Imaam Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Saalih al-Ijlee rahimahullah said: “Muhammad bin Ishaaq Madani Thiqah”
[Ma’rifat ath-Thiqaat/Al-Taareekh: 1571; Taareekh Baghdaad: 1/231 T. 51]

6-    Imaam Ali bin Abdullah al-Madeeni rahimahullah said: “Ibn Ishaaq is Thiqah according to me, and nothing brought him down according to me except his narration from the people of the Book”
[Kitaab al-Qira’ah Khalf al-Imaam by al-Bayhaqi: 1/19, Chain Saheeh]

Note: The meaning of “brought down” is to declare him Hasan ul-Hadeeth from the highest level of Thiqah Mutqin or Saheeh ul-Hadeeth, as is proven from the words “Saalih Wasat” below.

The narration from the people of the book (Jews and Christians) means that the Jews in Madeenah that had become Muslims, so Ibn Ishaaq would narrate from the Muslim offspring of those people, as is proven from the names of Shuyookh of Ibn Ishaaq.

Ameer ul-Mu’mineen fil Hadeeth, Imaam Bukhaari rahimahullah said: “I saw Ali bin Abdullah al-Madeeni taking evidence from the hadeeth of Ibn Ishaaq”
[Kitaab al-Qira’ah lil Bukhaari: P. 190 H. 142]

Muhammad bin Uthmaan bin Abi Shaybah (Thiqah) asked Imaam Ibn al-Madeeni about Muhammad bin Ishaaq, so he replied: “He is Saalih Wasat”
[Su’aalaat Muhammad bin Uthmaan bin Abi Shaybah: 83]

Imaam Ibn al-Madeeni said that the chains of transmission depend upon six men: Ibn Shihaab az-Zuhri, Amr bin Deenaar, Qataadah, Yahya bin Abi Katheer, Abu Ishaaq as-Sabi’ee, and Sulemaan al-A’mash – then among the important students of these six men, he mentioned the names of Imaam Maalik and Muhammad bin Ishaaq etc.
[Kitaab al-Ilal by Ibn al-Madeeni: P. 39-40]

Imaam Ali al-Madeeni said in another place: “I looked into the book of Ibn Ishaaq, thus I did not find any hadeeth worth criticizing except two, and it is possible that even those two are Saheeh”
[Taareekh Baghdaad: 1/231; Juzz al-Qira’ah: P. 18 etc]

7-    Imaam Abu Eesa at-Tirmidhi authenticated several narrations of Ibn Ishaaq in Ahkaam-o-Aqaaid etc to be Hasan and Saheeh, whose details are as follows:

Hasan Ghareeb: 9, 58, 291, 1198, 1692, 1824, 2314, 2473, 2476, 2732, 2832, 3181, 3528, 3619, 3817, 3837.

Hasan Saheeh: 23, 115, 154, 189, 308, 398, 526, 543, 1267, 1497, 1637, 3045, 3166

Hasan: 311, 645, 1028, 2821

Hasan Saheeh Ghareeb: 2541, 3632, 3738

Hasan Ghareeb Saheeh: 3097

Many of the narrations above are in Ahkaam and some are in Aqaaid. This proves that Muhammad bin Ishaaq was Thiqah according to Imaam Tirmidhi

Benefit: Imaam Tirmidhi declared the hadeeth of Amr bin Bujdaan to be “Hasan Saheeh”, so Taqi ud-Deen (Ibn Daqeeq ul-Eed) said in (the book named) “al-Imaam” that: “What difference is there that he calls him Thiqah or authenticates his lone hadeeth?”
[Nasb ur-Rayaa: 1/149]

Ibn al-Qattaan al-Faasi said about Zaynab bint Ka’b and Sa’d bin Ishaaq that: “And in Tasheeh of his hadeeth from Tirmidhi, there is the Tawtheeq of him and Sa’d bin Ishaaq in it”
[Bayaan al-Wahem wal Ayhaam: 5/395; and Nasb ur-Rayaa: 3/264]

This proves that when a Scholar authenticates a hadeeth then it is a Tawtheeq from him for all the narrators of that hadeeth, unless if a clear proof makes an exception.

8-    Imaam Muhammad bin Sa’d bin Munee’ said about Ibn Ishaaq that: “Muhammad was Thiqah and people have narrated from him…. and there are some among the people who have criticized him”
[Tabaqaat Ibn Sa’d: 7/321-322]

9-    Haafidh Ibn Hibbaan mentioned Ibn Ishaaq in Kitaab ath-Thiqaat and said: “Thus when his Sama gets proven in what he narrates then he is Thabat, evidence is taken from his narration”
[Kitaab ath-Thiqaat: 7/383-384]

There are about 79 narrations of Ibn Ishaaq narrated in Saheeh Ibn Hibbaan
[See, 18/221-222] Also see: Mashaaheer Ulama al-Amsaar (P. 139)

10-          Imaam Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Numayr rahimahullah said about Muhammad bin Ishaaq that: “When he narrates from the known narrators then he is Hasan ul-Hadeeth Sadooq, when he narrates from Majhool people then those narrations are Baatil”
[Taareekh Baghdaad: 1/227, Chain Saheeh]

Narrating Baatil narrations from Majhool narrators is not a Jarh on the narrator, rather it is the flaw of Majhool narrators, and it is the Jarh on those Majhool narrators.

11-          Imaam Abdullah bin al-Mubaarak was asked about Muhammad bin Ishaaq so he replied: “As for me, we have found him a Truthful person”
[Kitaab ath-Thiqaat by Ibn Hibbaan: 7/383, Chain Hasan]

12-          Imaam Sufyaan ibn Uyaynah said: “I sat with Ibn Ishaaq for more than seventy years, and no one from the People of Madeenah ever accused him, nor did they say anything about him”
[Kitaab al-Jarh wat Ta’deel: 7/192, Chain Saheeh]

He also said: “No one ever attacked him in Hadeeth; the people of Madeenah only attacked him for his being a Qadari”
[Kitaab al-Ma’rifah wal Taareekh by Imaam Ya’qoob bin Sufyaan al-Faarsi: 2/27, Chain Hasan]

Note: Being a Qadari, Khaariji, Jahmi, Mu’tazali, or Murji’i etc of a Thiqah narrator does not affect his Thaqaahat and there are many narrators of that type in Saheehayn.

Ibraaheem bin al-Mundhir said to Sufyaan bin Uyaynah that people call Ibn Ishaaq to be Kadh-dhaab, so he replied: “Don’t say such a thing”
[Al-Jarh wat Ta’deel: 7/192, Chain Saheeh]

13-          Imaam Abu Zur’ah ar-Raazi said about Muhammad bin Ishaaq that: “He is Sadooq; who criticized Muhammad bin Ishaaq? Muhammad bin Ishaaq is Sadooq”
[Kitaab al-Jarh wat Ta’deel: 7/192, Chain Saheeh]

Sarfaraz Khan Safdar has narrated the saying of Taahir bin Saalih bin Ahmed al-Jazaairi which he narrated from Abu Zur’ah against this tawtheeq. This chain-less reference is rejected because of being against the authentic saying, and even if this reference is proven then Jarh and Ta’deel will both become neutral because of being contradictory.

14-          Imaam Ibn Khuzaymah al-Neesaaboori rahimahullah has narrated many narrations of Ahkaam etc from Muhammad bin Ishaaq bin Yasaar in Saheeh Ibn Khuzaymah, e.g.
H. 15, 36, 58, 138…. 2280, 2333, 2334, 2377….

This proves that Muhammad bin Ishaaq was Thiqah and Sadooq according to Imaam Ibn Khuzaymah.

15-          Imaam Ibn al-Jaarood al-Neesaaboori rahimahullah has narrated many narrations from Ibn Ishaaq in al-Muntaqa, e.g.
H. 31, 158, 291, 321….

Suyooti has written about Saheeh Ibn Khuzaymah, Saheeh Abu Awaanah, and al-Muntaqa of Ibn al-Jaarood that: “The attribution of a narration to these is a sign of their authentication”
[Deebaajah Jama al-Jawaami: 1/20]

Ashraf Ali Thaanvi Deobandi said: “Ibn al-Jaarood has narrated this hadeeth in al-Muntaqa therefore it is Saheeh according to him, because he only narrates authentic narration (in this book), as Suyooti has affirmed in the Deebaajah of Jama al-Jawaami”
[Bawaadir al-Nawaadir: P. 135]

16-          Imaam Abu al-Abbaas Muhammad bin Abdur Rahmaan ad-Dagholi said: “Muhammad bin Ishaaq is an Imaam in al-Maghaazi, Sadooq in narration”
[Kitaab al-Qira’ah lil Bayhaqi: P. 59 H. 114, Chain Hasan]

17-          Imaam Abu Bakr Ahmed bin al-Husayn al-Bayhaqi said about a hadeeth of Muhammad bin Ishaaq narrated in the issue of Faatihah Khalf al-Imaam that: “This chain is Saheeh”
[Kitaab al-Qira’ah P. 58 H. 114]

This proves that Muhammad bin Ishaaq was Thiqah according to Bayhaqi. Therefore, the Jarh of Bayhaqi narrated by Sarfaraz Khan is either abrogated or it is based on the Mu’an’an narration of Ibn Ishaaq.

18-          Imaam Abu al-Hasan Ali bin Umar ad-Daaraqutni rahimahullah said about the hadeeth of Muhammad bin Ishaaq about Faatihah Khalf al-Imaam that: “This chain is Hasan”
[Sunan ad-Daaraqutni: 1/318 H. 1200]

This proves that Ibn Ishaaq was Hasan ul-Hadeeth according to ad-Daaraqutni, therefore his Jarh on Ibn Ishaaq is Mansookh or based on his Mu’an’an narrations.

19-          Imaam Haakim al-Nishaaboori has declared many narrations from Ibn Ishaaq in al-Mustadrak to be on the conditions of Saheeh Muslim, e.g.: 1/111 H. 379, 1/281 H. 1039…

This proves that Muhammad bin Ishaaq was Thiqah and Sadooq according to Imaam Haakim.

20-          Haafidh Dhahabi has authenticated many of the narrations of Muhammad bin Ishaaq in Talkhees al-Mustadrak to be on the conditions of Saheeh Muslim, following al-Haakim, e.g. see: H. 379, 1039…

After a long discussion about Ibn Ishaaq, Haafidh Dhahabi said: “As for the ahaadeeth in al-Ahkaam, his hadeeth reaches the level of Hasan dropping from the level of Saheeh, except that in which he does Shudhoodh (opposes other Thiqah people), then it will be counted among the Munkar (narrations)”
[Siyar A’laam al-Nabula: 7/41]

Also see, Al-Mawqadhah by adh-Dhahabi (P. 81)

Dhahabi also said: “He was Sadooq from the oceans of knowledge, and he has Ghareeb narrations among the vast narrations that he narrated which have been rejected, and there is difference of opinion in taking evidence from him, and his hadeeth is Hasan and a group has authenticated his (hadeeth)”
[Al-Kaashif: 3/18 T. 4789]

At another place, he said: “He is Sadooq”
[Ma’rifat ar-Ruwaat al-Mutakallim feehim bima la Yojab ar-Radd: 289]

At another place, he said: “He is Thiqah In-shaa-Allaah, Sadooq”
[Deewaan: 1/341]

21-          Haafidh Abu Awaanah has narrated narrations from Muhammad bin Ishaaq in Saheeh Abi Awaanah, e.g. see: 1/360 H. 827, 2/28 H. 2022…

22-          Imaam Ahmed bin Hanbal said about Muhammad bin Ishaaq: “He is Hasan ul-Hadeeth, and when Maalik mentioned him he said: Dajjaal among the Dajaajalah”
[Taareekh Baghdaad: 1/223, Chain Saheeh]

This proves two things:

1.     According to Imaam Ahmed, the Jarh of Imaam Maalik is Mansookh or Marjooh.
2.     The Jarh of Imaam Ahmed on Ibn Ishaaq is Mansookh.

23-          Haafidh Zayaa ud-Deen Muhammad bin Abdul Waahid al-Maqdisi has narrated narrations from Ibn Ishaaq (as Hujjah) in al-Mukhtaarah e.g. see: Al-Mukhtaarah (8/339 H. 411)

24-          Imaam Abu Sulemaan Ahmed bin Muhammad al-Khattaabi al-Busti (D. 388) said about the hadeeth of Ibn Ishaaq in the issue of Faatihah Khalf al-Imaam that: “Its chain is Jayyid, there is no criticism in it”
[Ma’aalim as-Sunan: 1/177 H. 252]

25-          Imaam Husayn bin Mas’ood al-Baghawi rahimahullah said about a hadeeth of Muhammad bin Ishaaq that: “This hadeeth is Hasan”
[Shahr us-Sunnah: 1/394 H. 199]

26-          Abu Ya’la Khaleel bin Abdullah bin Ahmed al-Khaleeli al-Quzwayni rahimahullah (D. 446) said: “He was a Major Scholar from the People of Madeenah… and he was a Scholar, vast in knowledge, Thiqah”
[Al-Irshaad fi Ma’rifah Ulama al-Hadeeth: 1/288 T. 138]

27-          Imaam Abu Zur’ah ad-Dimashqi rahimahullah said: “And Muhammad bin Ishaaq is a man in taking from whom the Major People of Knowledge have consented upon, among them are: Sufyaan bin Sa’eed (Ath-Thawree), Shu’bah, (Sufyaan) Ibn Uyaynah, Hammaad bin Zayd, Hammaad bin Salamah, Ibn al-Mubaarak, and Ibraaheem bin Sa’d, and among the Akaabir Yazeed bin Abi Habeeb has also narrated from him. Ahl al-Hadeeth investigated about him so they found him a truthful and a good person, besides that Ibn Shihaab (az-Zuhri) has praised him”
[Taareekh Abu Zur’ah ad-Dimashqi: 1454]

This proves that Muhammad bin Ishaaq is Sadooq and a good person according to the summary of the tahqeeq of Muhadditheen.

28-          After mentioning the criticisms of Tashee’, Taqdeer, and Tadlees on Muhammad bin Ishaaq, Khateeb al-Baghdaadi said at the end: “As for truthfulness than it cannot be denied from him”
[Taareekh Baghdaad: 1/224]

This proves that Khateeb al-Baghdaadi considered Sadooq (truthful).

29-          Haafidh Abdul Azeem bin Abdul Qawi al-Mundhiri rahimahullah said about Muhammad bin Ishaaq in a decisive way that: “He was among the major Ulama, his hadeeth is Hasan”

Then after a lengthy discussion of Jarh and Ta’deel, he said: “And in general he is among the disputed upon narrators, and he is Hasan ul-Hadeeth as passed before, wallahu a’lam”
[Al-Targheeb wal Tarheeb: 4/577]

30-          Ibn al-Qattaan al-Faasi al-Maghribi said about Muhammad bin Ishaaq: “He saw (Sayyidunah) Anas bin Maalik (radiallah anhu). The summary about him is that he is Thiqah and Haafidh, especially in Siyar (and Maghaazi), and the criticism on him is not correct”
[Bayaan al-Wahem wal Ayhaam fi Kitaab al-Ahkaam: 5/630]

Benefit: Muhammad bin Ishaaq said: “I saw Anas bin Maalik (radiallah anhu); he was wearing a black turban, and the children would run and say, ‘this is from the Companions of the Prophet and he will not die until the meeting with Dajjaal’”
[Taareekh Baghdaad: 1/217, Chain Hasan]

Note: The saying of the running children was not correct as Sayyidunah Anas radiallah anhu died before the emergence of Dajjaal, and the emergence of Dajjaal has not occurred yet.

31-          Qaadhi Abu Zur’ah bin Abi al-Fadl Abdur Raheem bin al-Husayn al-Iraaqi rahimahullah said about a narration of Ibn Ishaaq that: “Its chain is Jayyid, it contains Muhammad bin Ishaaq and he has affirmed his hearing”
[Tarh at-Tathreeb fi Sharh al-Taqreeb: 4/42]

32-          Haafidh Ibn Katheer ad-Dimashqi rahimahullah said about a narration of Muhammad bin Ishaaq that: “This chain is Hasan”
[Tafseer Ibn Katheer: 4/349 – Surah Baqarah: 285-286]

33-          Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Ahmed al-Qurtubi al-Ansaari rahimahullah (D. 671) said about a narration of Muhammad bin Ishaaq that: “Ibn Maajah has narrated it with a Hasan chain rather Saheeh from the hadeeth of Ibn Abbaas”
[Tafseer Qurtubi: 4/225, Aal-e-Imraan: 144]

34-          Haafidh Ibn Hazm adh-Dhaahiri took evidence from the hadeeth of Muhammad bin Ishaaq on the issue of Faatihah Khalf al-Imaam and said about the criticism on this hadeeth that: “And this (criticism) is nothing for verily Muhammad bin Ishaaq is one of the A’immah and he is declared Thiqah by az-Zuhri and he preferred him over the people of Madeenah of his time…”
[Al-Muhalla: 3/241 Mas’ala: 360]

35-          Imaam Ibn Shihaab az-Zuhri rahimahullah said about Muhammad bin Ishaaq to his gate-keeper that: “Whenever this man comes then do not stop him”
[Taareekh Abu Zur’ah ad-Dimashqi: 1451, Chain Saheeh]

Imaam az-Zuhri also said about Ibn Ishaaq that: “There will remain a lot of knowledge in Hijaaz until this Ahwal is among you”
[Ath-Thiqaat by Ibn Shaaheen, P. 200, Chain Hasan]

36-          Haafidh Ibn Adee said after a lengthy discussion on Ibn Ishaaq that: “And there is nothing wrong in him”
[Al-Kaamil by Ibn Adee: 6/2125]

37-          Shaykh ul-Islaam Haafidh Ibn Taymiyyah rahimahullah said: “And when Ibn Ishaaq says Haddathani (i.e. affirming his sama) then he is Thiqah according to the Ahl al-Hadeeth and this chain is Jayyid”
[Majmoo Fataawa: 33/85]

38-          Haafidh Abu Hafs Umar bin Shaaheen rahimahullah (D. 385) mentioned Muhammad bin Ishaaq in Kitaab ath-Thiqaat
[P. 199, T. 1200]

39-          Haafidh Ibn al-Qayyim said in one of the answers of two objections that: “Certainly Ibn Ishaaq is Thiqah, there has not been a criticism on him which would necessitate abandoning taking evidence from him; and he has been declared Thiqah by the Kibaar A’immah and they praised him for his Memory and Adaalah (uprightness) – which are the two pillars of Riwaayah”
[Jalaa al-Afhaam, P. 58 with Tahqeeq of Mash-hoor Hasan]

40-          Imaam Ibn Jareer at-Tabari said about a narration narrated by Muhammad bin Ishaaq that: “And the chain of this report is Saheeh according to us…”
[Tahdheeb al-Athaar, al-Juzz al-Mafqood: P. 36 H. 22]

This proves that Muhammad bin Ishaaq is Saheeh ul-Hadeeth according to Imaam Ibn Jareer.

41-          Allaamah Sharf ud-Deen Nawawi said about a hadeeth of Muhammad bin Ishaaq that: “This chain is Saheeh and the Jumhoor (of Muhadditheen) take evidence from Muhammad bin Ishaaq whenever he says, Haddathana…”
[Al-Majmoo Sharh al-Muhadhdhab: 8/234, Pub. Daar al-Fikr]

42-          Haafidh ad-Dunya, Imaam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalaani has defended Ibn Ishaaq at several places in several different books. And in Taqreeb (P. 435), he said: “He is Sadooq and Mudallis”. Moreover, Haafidh Ibn Hajar authenticated his hadeeth on the issue of Faatihah Khalf al-Imaam, saying: “Its narrators are Thiqaat” [Al-Diraayah: P. 94]. Similarly, in Fath al-Baari (4/32) he writes: “And Ibn Ishaaq is Hasan ul-Hadeeth except that evidence is not taken from him when he is opposed”. It is obvious that if a Thiqah or Sadooq narrator opposes the hadeeth of a more Thiqah or a number of Thiqah people then his hadeeth is Da’eef, this does not effect the Asal Tawtheeq of him. Similarly, while explaining the levels of hadeeth according to the condition of narrator, Haafidh Ibn Hajar said: “And this is the Muqaddimah upon the narration of those who narration is counted as Hasan in which they narrated alone such as Muhammad bin Ishaaq An Aasim bin Umar An Jaabir.” [Sharh Nukhbat al-Fikr: P. 34]. Here, as well, Ibn Hajar has declared the lone narration of Ibn Ishaaq to be Hasan. Similarly, there are other sayings of Ibn Hajar as well which prove that he considers Ibn Ishaaq to be Thiqah.

43-          Haafidh Ibn al-Jawzee criticized Ibn Ishaaq so Badr ud-Deen Aynee al-Hanafi answered him saying: “The criticism of Ibn al-Jawzee on Ibn Ishaaq is nothing for verily Ibn Ishaaq is among the Major Thiqah narrators according to the Jumhoor”
[Umdat ul-Qaari: 7/270 H. 1199]

44-          Zayla’ee Hanafi, despite his Ta’assub, said: “And the majority has done the Tawtheeq of Ibn Ishaaq, and among those who declared him Thiqah is al-Bukhaari, wallahu a’lam.”
[Nasb ur-Rayaa: 4/7]

45-          Abu al-Abbaas Ahmed bin Muhammad bin Abi Bakr, known as: Ibn Khalkaan (D. 681) said: “The Muhammad (bin Ishaaq) mentioned here, is Thabat in Hadeeth according to the Majority of Ulama and as for in the field of al-Maghaazee and Siyar then his Imaamate in it can not be ignored”
[Wafiyaat al-A’yaan wa Anba Abnaa az-Zamaan: 4/276]

46-          Kamaal ud-Deen Ibn Hammaam al-Hanafi said: “And Ibn Ishaaq is Thiqah according to what the Truth is!”
[Fath al-Qadeer Sharh Hidaayah: 1/358]

And he said while refuting Ibn al-Jawzee that: “As for Ibn Ishaaq then he is Thiqah; there is no doubt in it according to us and the Muhaqqiq Muhadditheen”
[Fath ul-Qadeer: 1/370]

47-          A person named Abdul Wahhaab bin Ali bin Abd ul-Kaafi as-Subki has a very high rank among the people of Bid’ah. This Subki said about Ibn Ishaaq that: “The practice is upon his Tawtheeq and he is a reliable Imaam and no opposing saying is to be trusted other than this”
[Tabaqaat ash-Shaafi’eeyyah al-Kubra: 1/40]

48-          Haafidh Ibn Abdil Barr al-Andalusi rahimahullah said after narrating the criticism on Muhammad bin Ishaaq that: “And as for Truth and Memory then he was a Sadooq and Haafidh narrator, Ibn Shihaab has praised him…”
[Jaami Bayaan al-Ilm wa Fadlihi: 2/156]

49-          Haafidh Abdul Haqq al-Ashbaylee said: “He has been declared Thiqah by a group, and Da’eef by others; and those who declared him Thiqah are in Majority”
[Al-Ahkaam ash-Sharee’ah al-Kubra: 1/79]

50-          Abdur Rahmaan bin Abdullah bin Ahmed bin Asbagh al-Suhaylee al-Andalusi al-Maaliki (D. 581) said: “And this Muhammad bin Ishaaq – may Allaah have mercy upon him – is Thabat in Hadeeth according to Akthar Ulama”
[Al-Rawd al-Anf fi Tafseer as-Seerah al-Nabawiyyah by Ibn Hishaam: 1/19]

51-          Ahmed Shihaab ud-Deen al-Khaffaaji (D. 1069) said: “And his Hadeeth is Hasan and above (the level of) Hasan…”
[Naseem al-Riyadh fi Sharh ash-Shifaa li Qaadhi Iyaadh: 1/152]

52-          Haafidh Ibn al-Mulaqqin said: “And this Ibn Ishaaq…. And he has Ghareeb narrations among the vast number of what he narrated, and he is Sadooq and his Hadeeth is above (the level of) Hasan and he (i.e. his hadeeth) has been authenticated by a group”
[Al-Badar al-Muneer: 3/298]

53-          Ibn Naasir ud-Deen ad-Dimashqi (D. 842) said: “He was an ocean from the oceans of knowledge, Sadooq, he is disputed upon with regard to Jarh and Ta’deel”
[Shadhraat adh-Dhahab: 1/230]

54-          Abdullah bin As’ad al-Yaafi’ee said: “And he was a ocean from the oceans of knowledge, Zaki (intelligent), Haafidh, seeker of knowledge historian, expert of Ansaab (and) Thabat in Hadeeth according to many Scholars…”
[Mir’aat al-Janaan: 1/144]

55-          Haafidh Noor ud-Deen Ali bin Abi Bakr al-Haythami (D. 807) said: “It is narrated by at-Tabaraani in al-Awsat and it contains Muhammad bin Ishaaq and he is Thiqah Mudallis, and he has affirmed his hearing, and its chain is Hasan”
[Majma az-Zawaaid: 1/221]

56-          Allaamah Ibn Abdil Haadi declared Ibn Ishaaq to be “Sadooq”
[Tanqeeh: 1/380]

57-          Abdul Hayy bin al-Ammaad al-Hanbali accorded adh-Dhahabi narrating his saying that: “He was an ocean from the oceans of knowledge, intelligent, Haafidh, Student of Knowledge Mu’arrikh, expert of Ansaab (and) an Allaamah”
[Shadhraat adh-Dhahab: 1/230]

58-          Abu Muhammad Husayn bin Abdur Rahmaan bin Muhammad bin Ali bin Abi Bakr bin Ali al-Ahdal ash-Shaafi’ee al-Ash’aree said about Muhammad bin Ishaaq that:  “Do not be ignorant of his honesty and the majority of them have declared him Thiqah in hadeeth…”
[Shadhraat adh-Dhahab: 1/230]

59-          Ibn Sayyid an-Naas mentioned the criticisms of Scholars on Ibn Ishaaq in his famous book “Ayoon al-Athar fi Funoon al-Maghaazee wal Shumayal wal Siyar” and later named the chapter: “Dhikr al-Ajwibah Amma Rami Bihi” and answered the criticisms on him
[See, Ayoon al-Athar: 1/13]

60-          Mulla Ali Qaari al-Hanafi writes: “His hadeeth is Hasan in fact above Hasan, and a group has authenticated him (i.e. his hadeeth)”
[Sharh al-Shifaa: 1/125]

61-          Allaamah Ibn Allaan writes: “It does not effect the hadeeth that it contains Ibn Ishaaq in it for verily he has affirmed his hearing in his narration so his hadeeth becomes Maqbool, Saheeh upon the conditions of Muslim as mentioned by al-Haakim”
[Al-Fatoohaat ar-Rabbaaniyyah: 2/342]

62-          Similarly, Al-Sakhaawi said: “I say: it contains Ibn Ishaaq, however, he has affirmed his hearing in his narration so his hadeeth becomes Maqbool, Saheeh upon the conditions of Muslim as mentioned by al-Haakim”
[Al-Qaul al-Badee: P. 35]

63-          Allaamah Shawkaani has authenticated his hadeeth and took evidence from him.
[Al-Sayl ul-Jarraar: 1/219]

The Praises and Authentications of recent-past & Present Scholars:

1-    Allaamah Nawaab Siddeeque Hasan Khaan said: “He was Thabat in Hadeeth according to many Scholars”
[Al-Taaj al-Mukallal: P. 281]

2-    Allaamah Ahmed Shaakir said: “Muhammad bin Ishaaq bin Yasaar is the author of Seerah, and he is Thiqah; he has been criticized without Hujjah”
[Ta’leeq Ala al-Musnad: P. 90]

3-    Allaamah Abdur Rahmaan Mubaarakpooree – the author of world renowned book “Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi” has defended Ibn Ishaaq in his books such as: Tahqeeq al-Kalaam (1/61) and Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi (1/20).

4-    Allaamah Shams ul-Haqq al-Adheemabaadi has defended Ibn Ishaaq in his world renowned book “Awn al-Ma’bood” (3/371, 373)

5-    Allaamah Basheer Ahmed Sahaswaani has preferred the tawtheeq of Ibn Ishaaq in al-Burhaan al-Ijaab (P. 47, 51)

6-    Allaamah Abdul Hayy Lakhnawi al-Hanafi has done lengthy discussions on Ibn Ishaaq in Imaam al-Kalaam (P. 362, 273) & Ghayth al-Ghammaam and has declared his hadeeth to be Hasan and he answered the criticisms of People on Ibn Ishaaq. And in al-Si’aayah (1/372), he said: “The most authentic opinion about Ibn Ishaaq is (his) Tawtheeq”

7-    Allaamah Salaamullah al-Hanafi writes: “Muhammad bin Ishaaq is Thiqah according to the correct opinion”
[Muhalla Sharh Muwatta with reference from Tahqeeq al-Kalaam: 1/61; and Tadhkirat al-Muntaha: P. 31]

8-    The Famous student of Allaamah Lakhnawi, Naymawi al-Hanafi says about the hadeeth of Ibn Ishaaq in Athaar as-Sunan (P. 74, 51) that: “Its chain is Hasan”

9-    Anwar Shaah Kaashmiree al-Hanafi al-Deobandi said after mentioning praises and criticisms about him that: “And according to me he is among those whose narrations are Hasan as said in al-Meezaan, and it is possible there might have been something in his memory”
[Al-Urf ash-Shazi: P. 42, 43]

10-          Muhammad Yoosuf Binnoori al-Deobandi narrates the saying of his Shaykh al-Kaashmiree in Ma’aarif al-Sunan (1/91) and says: “And the truth is with our Shaykh that he is among those narrators whose hadeeth is Hasan”

11-          Muhammad Idrees Kaandhalwi al-Hanafi al-Deobandi has defended Muhammad bin Ishaaq in Seerat al-Mustafa (1/76, 77)

12-          Zafar Ahmed Uthmaani al-Hanafi al-Deobandi has defended Ibn Ishaaq in Inhaa al-Sakan (P. 86), and he has also accepted his narrations to be Hasan in I’laa us-Sunan (1/30, 32; 2/41, 114, 120)

13-          Khaleel Ahmed Sahaaranpoori al-Hanafi al-Deobandi has also defended Ibn Ishaaq in Bazl al-Majhood (3/63)

14-          Zaahid al-Kawthaari has narrated the tawtheeq of Ibn Ishaaq under the footnotes of Shuroot al-A’immah al-Khamsah lil Haazmi (P. 29), and in another place, he said: “Majority of critiques have declared him Thiqah in absolute sense….”
[Al-Nakat al-Tareefah: P. 248]

15-          Abu Ghuddah al-Hanafi has defended Ibn Ishaaq in Haashiah al-Masnoo’ (P. 182, 183) and he has done tawtheeq of Ibn Ishaaq in the footnotes of Qawaaid Uloom al-Hadeeth and has authenticated his narrations (P. 73, 75, 103, 104, 243).

16-          Sarfaraaz Khaan Safdar al-Deobandi practices favoritism not only in this case but in all cases, he authenticates the ahaadeeth which accord his Madhab, and weakens the narrations which oppose his Madhab. That is why, when Ibn Ishaaq narrated the hadeeth of Faatihah he criticized him with severe criticisms in his book Ahsan al-Kalaam, but when the same narrator narrated ahaadeeth which matched his madhab, he declared his ahaadeeth to be Saheeh or Hasan and defended him.
[See, Ahsan al-Kalaam: 1/143, Taskeen al-Sudoor: P. 191 etc…]

17-          Muhammad Hasan al-Deobandi writes: “He is Hasan ul-Hadeeth Sadooq…”
[Al-Daleel al-Mubeen: P. 424]

18-          The Founder of Braylwee Madhab, Ahmed Raza Khaan al-Braylwee writes: “Even according to our noble Scholars, the most authentic opinion is the Tawtheeq of Muhammad bin Ishaaq”
[Muneer al-Ayn fi Hukm Taqbeel al-Abhaamayn: P. 116; Fataawa Rizwiyah: 2/514, 5/592]

19-          Noor Muhammad Multaani Hanafi has defended Ibn Ishaaq in five pages of his pamphlet in reply to Shibli Nu’maani named “Tadhkirah al-Muntaha fi Radd Iskaat al-Muta’addi”

20-          The previous “Mufti Allaamah Muhaqqiq ul-Asr al-Muhaddith al-Faqeeh al-Mufti” Mahdi Hasan Geelaani of Daarul Uloom Deoband has even authenticated some Mu’an’an narrations of Ibn Ishaaq!
[Haashiah Kitaab al-Hujjah: 1/256]

21-          Mufti Taqi Uthmaani al-Deobandi al-Hanafi writes: “His hadeeth is no less than the level of Hasan according to the Muhaqqiqeen, and in reality only Maalik and Hishaam bin Urwah have criticized him”
[Takallimah Fath al-Mulhim: 2/389]

22-          The famous student of Allaamah Lakhnawi, Ameer Ali al-Hanafi writes: “You are aware of Ibn Ishaaq, it was even said about him that he is Thiqah Thiqah”
[Al-Tazneeb: P. 9]

23-          Muhaddith ul-Asr, Allaamah Naasir ud-Deen Albaani also declares his hadeeth to be Hasan if he affirms his hearing.
[Al-Irwaa: 2/44, 92 etc]

24-          Shaykh Shu’ayb al-Arana’oot has declared him Hasan ul-Hadeeth at several places in Tahqeeq al-Musnad (16/340 etc…)

Those who criticized him:

1-    Imaam Abu Abdur Rahmaan al-Nasaa’ee said: “He is not strong”
[Ad-Du’afa wal Matrokeen by Nasaa’ee: 513]

2-    Imaam Abu Haatim ar-Raazi said: “He is not strong in hadeeth according to me, Da’eef ul-Hadeeth, and he is more beloved to me than Aflah bin Sa’eed, write his narrations”
[Al-Jarh wat Ta’deel: 3/194]

3-    Imaam al-Barqaani said, I asked ad-Daaraqutni about Muhammad bin Ishaaq and his Father, so he replied: “Evidence is not taken from them, and they are relied upon”
[Taareekh Baghdaad: 1/232; Su’aalaat al-Barqaani: P. 58]

4-    Imaam Dhahabi writes: “Sulemaan said that Yahya al-Qattaan informed me that Muhammad bin Ishaaq is Kadh-dhaab, I asked the reason for it, so he replied, Wuhayb has told me that he is Kadh-dhaab, then I asked Wuhayb so he said that Maalik has informed me that he is Kadh-dhaab, then I asked Maalik about its reason so he replied: Hishaam told me that he is Kadh-dhaab, then I asked Hishaam as to why you call him Kadh-dhaab? So he replied: Ibn Ishaaq says that ‘I have heard from Faatimah bint Mundhir’, whereas, She is my Wife. The day she has entered me wife no one has ever seen her, and when she came to my house she was nine years old”

After narrating these narrations, Imaam Dhahabi said: “We have already answered this (Jarh). When did he (Ibn Ishaaq) say that I have seen her? Can a Scholar be considered Kadh-dhaab from such sayings? This is merely Mardood”
[Meezaan al-I’tidaal: 3/471]

He further said: “How does Hishaam know? It is possible that Ibn Ishaaq heard from Faatimah in the Masjid, or he might have heard from her when Ibn Ishaaq was a child, or from behind a curtain. Therefore, what difficulty is there? (especially) when Faatimah was old in age”
[Meezaan: 3/470]

Dhahabi also writes: “Muhammad bin Sawqah (the narrator of Sihaah Sittah and a Thiqah person) has also narrated from Faatimah” Therefore, if Ibn Sawqah is not Kadh-dhaab for narrating from Faatimah then what is the crime of poor Ibn Ishaaq?

Dhahabi said: “As for what is said that she entered his house when she was a girl of nine is also a clear mistake… verily she was 13 years older than Hishaam, and she would have entered Hishaam’s house at least when he was more than twenty years old.”
[Meezaan: 3/471; Al-Siyar: 7/49]

That is why Dhahabi says: “He is truthful in that (i.e. in narrating from Faatimah) without any doubt”
[Al-Siyar: 7/37]

Besides this clear and detailed answer of Imaam Dhahabi, the chain of this narration is also doubtful
[See, Tozeeh al-Kalaam by Shaykh Irshaad ul-Haqq Athari: P. 224 for details]

However, this criticism of Hishaam is also narrated with another chain without mentioning the Jarh of Imaam Maalik, Yahya al-Qattaan and others.

5-    It is said that Imaam Maalik bin Anas al-Madani said: “He is a Dajjaal among the Dajaajalah”
[Meezaan al-I’tidaal]

This saying of Imaam Maalik is not correct due to many reasons. A’immah Jarh and Ta’deel have not accepted this criticism of Imaam Maalik.

Imaam Ya’qoob bin Shaybah said: “I asked Ibn al-Madeeni about Ibn Ishaaq so he said ‘his hadeeth is Saheeh according to me’, I asked: ‘What about the Kalaam of Maalik on him?’ He replied: ‘Maalik did not sit with him nor did he know him (i.e. his true value)’”
[Tahdheeb al-Sunan (7/97), Tahdheeb at-Tahdheeb (9/43), Taareekh Baghdaad (1/229, Chain Saheeh)]

Imaam Ibn Hibbaan said: “Ibn Ishaaq was the most knowledgeable person in Hijaaz about Ansaab (lineages), and he claimed that Maalik was from the Mawali of Dhau Asbah. But (Imaam) Maalik claimed himself to be from the family of Asbah (claiming himself to be Al-Asbahi). They both debated with each other on this issue. So when (Imaam) Maalik authored al-Muwatta, Ibn Ishaaq said, ‘Bring it to me for I shall fix it’; this was mentioned to (Imaam) Maalik, so he said, ‘He is a Dajjaal from the Dajaajalah and narrates from the Jews’, and there were debates between them as usually happens between the people; however when Ibn Ishaaq decided to go to Iraaq so (Imaam) Maalik reconciled with him and gifted him with fifty Deenaar and a year worth of fruits. (Imaam) Maalik did not criticize him for Hadeeth, rather his reason was that he would narrate from the children of Jews who had become Muslims, and narrate the incidents of Khayber, Banu Qurayzah, & Banu Nazeer from them…”
[Kitaab ath-Thiqaat: 7/381, 382]

Allaamah Abdul Hayy al-Lakhnawi al-Hanafi said: “When a Jarh takes place due to Ta’assub, hostility, repulsion or something like that then this Jarh is Mardood, and no one would trust it except a repulsive person himself. That is why, the saying of Imaam Maalik is not accepted about Muhammad bin Ishaaq Saahib al-Maghaazee that he is a Dajjaal among the Dajaajalah, for it is known that this Jarh is based on repulsion. On the contrary, the correct thing according to them is that he is Hasan ul-Hadeeth and the A’immah of Hadeeth have taken evidence from him”
[Al-Rafa’ wal Takmeel: P. 259, 260]

Allaamah Ibn Abdil Barr has also declared the saying of Imaam Maalik to be based on personal hostility between them
[See, Jaami Bayaan al-Ilm: 2/156]

Not only that, the saying of Ibn Hibbaan above also proves that Imaam Maalik recanted from his saying at the end.

6-    Imaam Jareer bin Abdul Humayd said: “I did not think that I shall live up to a time when hadeeth will be narrated from Muhammad bin Ishaaq, and silence will be observed from Al-Hasan bin Ammaarah”
[Taareekh Baghdaad: 7/360]

This is a strange saying from Imaam Jareer as Ibn Ishaaq is still declared Thiqah and Hasan ul-Hadeeth by a lot of Scholars but Al-Hasan bin Ammaarah whom he is defending has been declared a severely weak and Matrook narrator. Therefore, just how his saying concerning al-Hasan is not correct, likewise, his opinion concerning Ibn Ishaaq is not Raajih as well.

Moreover, the chain of this saying contains a Majhool narrator “Ali bin Yoonus al-Marwazi”, wallahu a’lam.

7-    Imaam Ahmed bin Hanbal is reported to have said: “He is not Hujjah in Al-Sunan”
[Taareekh Baghdaad: 2/22 Tahqeeq Bashshaar]

This saying is not proven from Imaam Ahmed at all because it is narrated by “Abu al-Abbaas Ahmed bin Muhammad bin Sa’eed bin Uqdah ar-Raafidi”. He is severely weak. Muhadditheen have accused him of lying.
[See, Al-Fawaaid al-Majmoo’ah with the footnotes of Allaamah Mu’allami al-Yamaani: P. 352 to 354 & Al-Tankeel by al-Mu’allami: 1/169]

On the contrary, Imaam Ahmed has declared him Hasan ul-Hadeeth
[See, the sayings of Praises above]

It is also narrated from Imaam Ahmed that he said: “He is not Hujjah”
[Taareekh Baghdaad: 2/22, Chain Saheeh]

However, this is against his own tawtheeq and Imaam Ahmed himself has taken Hujjah from him. It could be that Imaam Ahmed is talking about his narrations narrated with AN, which are not Hujjah. Moreover, “Laysa Bihujjah” is not contrary to being Thiqah according to some early Scholars.
[See, Tozeeh ul-Kalaam]

8-    Imaam Yahya bin Ma’een said: “He is nothing, Da’eef, he is not strong”
[Taareekh Baghdaad]

The tawtheeq of Ibn Ishaaq is also proven from Imaam Ibn Ma’een such as: “Thabat in Hadeeth”, “Thiqah Laysa Bihujjah”, “Thiqah Hasan ul-Hadeeth”, “Sadooq”, “Laysa Bihi Ba’sa”
[See, the books of Rijaal]

9-    Imaam Abu Ja’far al-Ukaylee mentioned him in ad-Du’afa
[1587]

10-          Imaam Nawawi said: “The narrators which are not on the conditions of Saheeh include Ibn Ishaaq”
[Muqaddimah Sharh Muslim: 2/72]

Certainly, Ibn Ishaaq is not on the conditions of “As-Saheeh” i.e. Saheehayn, but this does not necessitate that his hadeeth won’t also be Hasan, in fact some Muhadditheen have even declared his hadeeth to be Saheeh (as passed before). In fact, Nawawi himself considers him Thiqah as long as it does not involve his tadlees, as has passed before with reference from Sharh al-Muhadhdhab.

11-          Haafidh Ibn al-Jawzee has criticized him in his books like: Kitaab ad-Du’afa, Kitaab al-Mawdoo’aat, and Al-Ilal al-Mutanaahiyah.

And many Muhadditheen have refuted Ibn al-Jawzee for his Jarh on Ibn Ishaaq.

Muhammad bin Ishaaq & Tadlees

Ibn Ishaaq is agreed upon to be a Mudallis; thus only those of his narrations will be accepted in which he affirms his hearing from his Shaykh.

1-    Imaam Ahmed bin Hanbal said: “Ibn Ishaaq commits Tadlees”
[Taareekh Baghdaad: 2/22, Chain Saheeh]

2-    Imaam Ibn Hibbaan said: “He commits tadlees from weak narrators, thus there occurred Munkar narrations in his reports due to those (Mudallas narrations), thus as for when he affirms his hearing in what he narrates then he is Thabat, evidence is taken from his report”
[Kitaab ath-Thiqaat: 7/383-384]

3-    Shaykh ul-Islaam Haafidh Ibn Taymiyyah rahimahullah said: “And when Ibn Ishaaq says Haddathani (i.e. affirming his sama) then he is Thiqah according to the Ahl al-Hadeeth and this chain is Jayyid”
[Majmoo Fataawa: 33/85]

4-    Haafidh Ibn Hajar mentioned him among the fourth level of Mudalliseen and said: “He is Sadooq, famous with Tadlees from weak and Majhool narrators and from the evil of those (men), and he is attributed with this by Ahmed, Ad-Daaraqutni and others.”
[Tabaqaat al-Mudalliseen: P. 73 with Tahqeeq of Shaykh Zubayr Ali Za’ee]

5-    Haafidh al-Alaa’ee said: “He is Famous with Tadlees”
[Jaami at-Tahseel: 1/261]

6-    Abu Zur’ah Ibn al-Iraaqi mentioned him in al-Mudalliseen and said: “He is among those who commit a lot of Tadlees especially from weak narrators”
[1/81]

7-    Burhaan ud-Deen al-Halabi mentioned him in al-Asmaa al-Mudalliseen and said: “He is among those who commit a lot of it especially from weak narrators”
[1/47]

8-    Jalaal ud-Deen Suyooti mentioned him in Asmaa al-Mudalliseen and said: “He is Katheer ut-Tadlees”
[1/81]

Conclusion:

Total Number of Praises: 63 or even more some which are not mentioned here.
Total Number of Criticisms: 11 or a little more - out of which 2 are not proven while 5 are either not valid or they contradict the tawtheeq of the criticizer.

In short, Despite being attributed with Qadariyyah, Tashee’, and Tadlees, Muhammad bin Ishaaq bin Yasaar is Sadooq Hasan ul-Hadeeth according to the Tawtheeq of the Jumhoor on the condition that he affirms his hearing in the narrations narrated by him and the narration should not also be Shaadh or Ma’lool.

Moreover, most of the criticisms on Ibn Ishaaq are unexplained or Ghayr Mutlaq, as Lakhnawi al-Hanafi writes: “Certainly many of the criticisms that took place on him are Ghayr Mufassir, and although some of them are Mufassir, they contradict the Mutawaatir praises; and the Asbaab of Jarh Mufassir are witness that they are not Mutlaq, that this why they (Muhadditheen) have graded his hadeeth to be Hasan”
[Imaam al-Kalaam: P. 273]

Imaam Dhahabi has also said that: “Many Scholars have avoided taking evidence from the hadeeth of Ibn Ishaaq due to several reasons. One of them is his being attributed towards Tashee’, Qadariyyah, and Tadlees”
[Siyar: 7/39]

The saying of Imaam Dhahabi proves that many of the criticisms on Ibn Ishaaq are due to his attributes which do not have any effect on the authenticity of his hadeeth.

To conclude, whether it is the narrations of Seerah, Maghaazee, Fadhaail – or – Ahkaam, Aqaaid, and Halaal-o-Haraam Muhammad bin Ishaaq bin Yasaar al-Madani is Hasan ul-Hadeeth as long as he affirms his hearing – rahimahullah!


3 comments:

  1. Can u give me a detailed analysis of the narrator Abdur Rahman bin Masud Al Yashkari

    عَبْد الرَّحْمَن بْن مَسْعُود الْيَشْكُرِي

    Jazak Allah Khair

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Assalaam-o-Alaykum
      Abdur Rahmaan is Thiqah
      See this lnk:

      http://asmaur-rijaal.blogspot.com/2013/03/abdur-rahmaan-bin-masood-al-yashkari.html

      Delete
  2. Akhi, can you specifically elucidate Muhammad bin Ishaq's narrations from Ikrimah? I came to know that his narrations from Ikrimah are munkar? Can you verify it at length, please?

    ReplyDelete