Book: Siyar A'lam An-Nubala by Ad-Dhahabi - سير أعلام النبلاء ـ الإمام الذهبي

Critique of Hadiths in "Al-Musnad"

He, may Allah have mercy on him, criticized hadiths in "Al-Musnad" that were not found in the "Sahihain". He said in "Siyar" [9/284]: "In the Sahihain, there are a few hadiths not found in 'Al-Musnad', but it could be said that they are not rejected, as there is no disagreement among the Muslims regarding them. However, what follows from this statement is not that everything found within it is considered proof. There exists within it a collection of weak hadiths that are permissible to narrate but should not be used as evidence. Additionally, it contains a few hadiths that are nearly fabricated, yet they are but a drop in the ocean. 'Al-Musnad' also includes numerous additions by Abdullah ibn Ahmad."

Criticism of "Ihya Ulum al-Din"

He critiques the hadiths found in "Ihya Ulum al-Din" by Abu Hamid al-Ghazali. He remarked in "Siyar" [14/276]: "The book 'Ihya Ulum al-Din' by Abu Hamid al-Ghazali contains a multitude of false hadiths, although it contains much goodness, were it not for the etiquettes, customs, and asceticism deriving from the ways of the philosophers and deviant Sufis. We ask Allah for beneficial knowledge."

Critique of Sunan Ibn Majah

He critiques the hadiths in Sunan Ibn Majah, noting in "Siyar" [10/374]: "Ibn Majah was a trustworthy, insightful, and honest scholar with vast knowledge. However, the status of 'his Sunan' was diminished due to what it contains of rare and some fabricated hadiths. There are about a thousand hadiths within it that do not serve as valid evidence."

Critique of Hadith Chains

Frequently, the esteemed scholar - may Allah have mercy on him - in the biographies of the scholars of hadith and its narrators, mentions hadiths that they themselves transmitted with their chains. He then critiques them, noting, for example, that: 'its chain is weak,' 'its chain is strong,' or other such statements. This practice occurred often in the biographies of hadith narrators, as he would not leave these hadiths without critique or judgment on their chains. Often, he would say: 'This is a sound hadith, or weak, or fabricated.'

Evaluation of Weak Hadiths

This approach aligns with his view of these hadiths after examining their condition. He mentioned in "Siyar" [3/447-448]: "It is said that any hadith containing 'O Hamira' is not authentic, and the weakest among them is the prohibition of sunning water, and the Prophet ﷺ saying to her: 'Do not do that, O Hamira, for it causes leprosy'. This is a fabricated report."

Thus, Sheikh Kamal al-Din Ibn al-Zamlakani, may Allah have mercy on him, said: "I am amazed by how he handles his writings, not passing over any hadith without clarifying any weakness in its text, obscurity in its chain, or criticism of its narrators. I have not seen anyone else observe this benefit in what they present." This was reported by the historian Salah al-Din al-Safadi, a student of al-Dhahabi, in his book "Al-Wafi bil Wafayat" [2/163].