Post by StudentOfTheDeen on Mar 23, 2015 18:38:58 GMT
The Narration
Al-Hakim al-Tirmidhi narrates from 'Umar, he said: Sulayman ibn Shurahbil narrated to us, he said: al-Bakhtari ibn 'Ubayd narrated to us, he said: my father narrated to us, he said: Abu Hurayrah narrated to us, he said: the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
This hadith has been narrated by al-Hakim al-Tirmidhi in Nawadir al-Usul (vol.4, p.272, 1195).
A look into the authenticity of the above narration by Mufti Muntasir Zaman
Al-Hakim al-Tirmidhi narrates from 'Umar, he said: Sulayman ibn Shurahbil narrated to us, he said: al-Bakhtari ibn 'Ubayd narrated to us, he said: my father narrated to us, he said: Abu Hurayrah narrated to us, he said: the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"Whoever drinks water in three sips, starting each sip with the name of Allah and ending each sip with the praise of Allah, the water will continue to glorify Allah in his stomach until he drinks water again."
This hadith has been narrated by al-Hakim al-Tirmidhi in Nawadir al-Usul (vol.4, p.272, 1195).
A look into the authenticity of the above narration by Mufti Muntasir Zaman
The following is a brief look at the grading of the narrators in the chain:
1) 'Umar. His full name is 'Umar ibn Abi 'Umar al-'Abdi 'al-Balkhi' (al-Khatib, al-Muttafiq wa al-Muftariq, vol.3, p.1612, 959). After mentioning his entry, al-Khatib remains silent about him (ibid.), whereas al-Jawzaqani says he is unknown (al-Jawzaqani, al-Abatil wa al-Manakir, vol.2, p.63).
He should not be confused for 'Umar ibn Abi 'Umar al-'Abdi 'al-Basri' who is severely weak and narrates from 'Abd Allah ibn Ta'us (Mizan al-I'tidal, vol.3, p.206, 5792). They have been clearly distinguished by al-Khatib in al-Muttafiq wa al-Muftariq (vol.3, p.1612, 959). I only mentioned this because it seems some scholars (ex. footnotes on the Lisan al-Mizan, vol.1, p.310) have confused the two. Hafiz Ibn Hajar relates the remarks of al-Jawzaqani that 'Umar is unknown, after which he states, "I say: 'Umar is known. However, he is weak" (Lisan al-Mizan, vol.1, p.310). It is possible that Hafiz Ibn Hajar is laboring under the impression that 'Umar ibn Abi 'Umar is al-Basri and thus he is known albeit weak. This is supported by the fact that Ibn Hajar mentions in another place that 'Umar ibn Abi 'Umar the teacher of al-Hakim al-Tirmidhi is extremely weak (Fath al-Bari, vol.12, p.354).
2) Sulayman ibn Shurahbil. His name is Abu Ayyub Sulayman ibn 'Abd al-Rahman, also known as Sulayman Ibn bint Shurahbil (Siyar A'lam al-Nubala, vol.11, p.36). As is the case in this chain, he is also attributed to his maternal grandfather, Shurahbil. In the entry of al-Bakhtari (the next narrator), Ibn Abi Hatim mentions among his students Sulayman Ibn bint Shurhabil (al-Jarh wa al-Ta’dil, vol.2, p.427). Moreover, in the entry of Sulayman Ibn bint Shurahbil, he quotes his father naming him as Sulayman ibn Shurahbil (Ibid., vol.4, p.129). As such, it is incorrect to say Ibn Hatim erred in naming the student of al-Bakhtari as Sulayman ibn Shurahbil (as assumed in the footnotes on Tahdhib al-Kamal, vol.4, p.24). Nevertheless, although he is truthful and stable in hadith, he frequently narrates from weak and unknown narrators (Ibid.).
3) Al-Bakhtari ibn 'Ubayd (ibn Salman and not Sulayman as some mentioned). Ibn 'Adi said that he narrates via his father from Abu Hurayrah roughly twenty hadiths most of which are manakir (al-Kamil, vol.2, p.238). Ibn Hibban mentions that he narrates via his father from Abu Hurayrah a collection of hadiths which has strange narrations (al-Majruhin, vol.1, p.232). Al-Dhahabi says he is an abandoned narrator (al-Mughni, vol.1, p.101). It should be noted that al-Bakhtari narrates this hadith via his father from Abu Hurayrah.
4) His father i.e. 'Ubayd ibn Salman al-Tabikhi. Abu Hatim said he is unknown (al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil, vol.6, p.7). Although al-Mizzi quotes Ya'qub ibn Shaybah to say 'Ubayd ibn Salman is known (Tahdhib al-Kamal, vol.19, p.211), Ibn Hajar states that considering the context of Ya'qub ibn Shaybah's statement, it seems he was referring to 'Ubayd ibn Salman al-Agharr i.e. someone besides the father of al-Bakhtari (Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol.7, p.67).
Considering what is mentioned above, the chain of this narration seems very weak. If the only chain available is the above (I was unable to locate an alternative route), it would be difficult to use this narration to prove the particular virtue mentioned therein. Other Ulama' may disagree, but this is what is apparent to me and I stand to be corrected.
1) 'Umar. His full name is 'Umar ibn Abi 'Umar al-'Abdi 'al-Balkhi' (al-Khatib, al-Muttafiq wa al-Muftariq, vol.3, p.1612, 959). After mentioning his entry, al-Khatib remains silent about him (ibid.), whereas al-Jawzaqani says he is unknown (al-Jawzaqani, al-Abatil wa al-Manakir, vol.2, p.63).
He should not be confused for 'Umar ibn Abi 'Umar al-'Abdi 'al-Basri' who is severely weak and narrates from 'Abd Allah ibn Ta'us (Mizan al-I'tidal, vol.3, p.206, 5792). They have been clearly distinguished by al-Khatib in al-Muttafiq wa al-Muftariq (vol.3, p.1612, 959). I only mentioned this because it seems some scholars (ex. footnotes on the Lisan al-Mizan, vol.1, p.310) have confused the two. Hafiz Ibn Hajar relates the remarks of al-Jawzaqani that 'Umar is unknown, after which he states, "I say: 'Umar is known. However, he is weak" (Lisan al-Mizan, vol.1, p.310). It is possible that Hafiz Ibn Hajar is laboring under the impression that 'Umar ibn Abi 'Umar is al-Basri and thus he is known albeit weak. This is supported by the fact that Ibn Hajar mentions in another place that 'Umar ibn Abi 'Umar the teacher of al-Hakim al-Tirmidhi is extremely weak (Fath al-Bari, vol.12, p.354).
2) Sulayman ibn Shurahbil. His name is Abu Ayyub Sulayman ibn 'Abd al-Rahman, also known as Sulayman Ibn bint Shurahbil (Siyar A'lam al-Nubala, vol.11, p.36). As is the case in this chain, he is also attributed to his maternal grandfather, Shurahbil. In the entry of al-Bakhtari (the next narrator), Ibn Abi Hatim mentions among his students Sulayman Ibn bint Shurhabil (al-Jarh wa al-Ta’dil, vol.2, p.427). Moreover, in the entry of Sulayman Ibn bint Shurahbil, he quotes his father naming him as Sulayman ibn Shurahbil (Ibid., vol.4, p.129). As such, it is incorrect to say Ibn Hatim erred in naming the student of al-Bakhtari as Sulayman ibn Shurahbil (as assumed in the footnotes on Tahdhib al-Kamal, vol.4, p.24). Nevertheless, although he is truthful and stable in hadith, he frequently narrates from weak and unknown narrators (Ibid.).
3) Al-Bakhtari ibn 'Ubayd (ibn Salman and not Sulayman as some mentioned). Ibn 'Adi said that he narrates via his father from Abu Hurayrah roughly twenty hadiths most of which are manakir (al-Kamil, vol.2, p.238). Ibn Hibban mentions that he narrates via his father from Abu Hurayrah a collection of hadiths which has strange narrations (al-Majruhin, vol.1, p.232). Al-Dhahabi says he is an abandoned narrator (al-Mughni, vol.1, p.101). It should be noted that al-Bakhtari narrates this hadith via his father from Abu Hurayrah.
4) His father i.e. 'Ubayd ibn Salman al-Tabikhi. Abu Hatim said he is unknown (al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil, vol.6, p.7). Although al-Mizzi quotes Ya'qub ibn Shaybah to say 'Ubayd ibn Salman is known (Tahdhib al-Kamal, vol.19, p.211), Ibn Hajar states that considering the context of Ya'qub ibn Shaybah's statement, it seems he was referring to 'Ubayd ibn Salman al-Agharr i.e. someone besides the father of al-Bakhtari (Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol.7, p.67).
Considering what is mentioned above, the chain of this narration seems very weak. If the only chain available is the above (I was unable to locate an alternative route), it would be difficult to use this narration to prove the particular virtue mentioned therein. Other Ulama' may disagree, but this is what is apparent to me and I stand to be corrected.