The [acceptance of the] Marāsīl of Ibrāhīm al-Nakha‘ī from ‘Abdullāh Ibn Mas‘ūd

Imām al-Dāraqūṭnī[1] quotes a very important principle in his Sunan[2] regarding the Mursal[3] narrations of Ibrāhīm al-Nakha’ī from ‘Abdullāh Ibn Mas‘ūd (May Allah be pleased with him), after citing a few narrations, he says:

"[Henceforth] these narrations; even though they are mursal, [is not a problem] as Ibrāhīm al-Nakha‘ī was the most knowledgable of ‘Abdullāh (Ibn Mas‘ūd) with regards to his opinions and his religious edicts. He took [all of] that [knowledge] from his uncles; ‘Alqamah, al-Aswad and ‘Abd 'l-Raḥmān the two sons Yazīd and many others from amongst the major companions of ‘Abdullāh (Ibn Mas‘ūd). It is on record that he (Ibrāhīm al-Nakha‘ī) said: 'If I narrate to you saying ‘Abdullāh Ibn Mas‘ūd said', then it is from a group of his (Ibn Mas‘ūd's) companions that narrated from him [from which al-Nakha‘ī then took], but if I hear a narration from one man I will name him for you."[4]

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[1] Imām al-Dāraqūṭnī رحمه الله [d. 385 AH]

[2] Sunan al-Dāraqūṭnī (3/94 no. 3319), Dār 'l-Mu'ayyad ed. Beirut, 2001:



[3] Mursal narrations are narrations which omit a narrator to the Prophet ﷺ or the Companions.

[4] A slightly different version is recorded in other books of Rijāl from Ibrāhīm al-Nakha‘ī, refer to Tahdhīb 'l-Tahdhīb of Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar al-‘Asqalānī (1/ #325) and Siyar A'lām 'l-Nubalā' of Imām al-Dhahabī (4/528).