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Fatwa CenterWeak Hadith in book by Ibn Kathir
Question
Are there any weak Hadith in the book "Qisaasul Ambiya" authored by Imam Abi Al-Fida Ismail bin Kathir?
Answer
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
The book of “The stories of the Prophets” (Qissess Al-Anbiya) written by Imam Ibn Kathir, is a part of his big book about history called “Al Bidaya wa Al Nihaya” and it contains weak Ahadith as Imam Ibn Kathir himself states. He stated his methodology in his book by saying: ‘We are not mentioning from the Israelites except what is permitted by the Law-Maker to be reported; i.e. what is not contradicting the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of his Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam).
It is the part that could neither be confirmed as true or denied. We mentioned the weak Ahadith to simplify what we summarized in our book or to clarify something unclear which is stated in our Islamic Jurisprudence, but has no benefit – in being mentioned. We mention it just as an adornment not as an evidence or something to rely upon. We rely on the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), what is reported as authentic or sound, and what is weak, we clarify it as being a weak Hadith. We seek the help and assistance of Allah, and we rely upon Him and there is no power except by Allah, the Exalted, the Wise, the Most-High and the Almighty’.
What is reported as weak Ahadith after this is not clarified as being weak, it could be that he forgot to mention it or it is something that could differ in ruling according to Ijtihad.
Allah knows best.
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