In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Blessings and peace be upon the noblest of the Prophets and Messengers, our Prophet Muhammad, and upon all his family and Companions.
This is a summary of what was covered in this part of the explanation of al-Risalah by Imam al-Shafi’i, focusing on the important points and clarifications, supplemented with some additions and clarifications that help in understanding the question more deeply.
The attack on the Salafi trend:
The session opens with a discussion of the fierce attack to which the Salafi trend is being subjected these days, to the point that some have likened its danger to that of Jewish extremism.
- The alleged danger of the Salafi trend: Some are reported as saying that the danger of the Salafi trend is no less than that of Jewish extremists, a comparison that is objectionable and strange.
- Strategic studies on the Salafi trend: It is pointed out that for more than ten years there have been strategic studies concerned with the Salafi trend in the Muslim world, and that these studies concluded that the Salafi trend is the most dangerous Islamic trend, representing an obstacle to Western civilization and its domination of the lands of the East.
- The reason for the hostility towards the Salafi trend: The reason for this hostility is attributed to the fact that the Salafi trend does not accept dilution or half-measures, but holds fast to the truth, as in the saying of Allah the Exalted: “And say, ‘The truth is from your Lord’” (Surat al-Kahf 18:29).
- The alliance against Ahl al-Sunnah: It is stated that there is a filthy alliance between the unbelievers, the secularists, the Rafidah, and the remnants of the Sufis and the Ash’aris against Ahl al-Sunnah.
- The Americanized trend: It is pointed out that a new trend has emerged, carried by some Americanized shaykhs, who applaud the greatest Dajjal, embellish his speeches, and append them to the Al-Azhar magazine. Examples are mentioned, such as one of them saying that he was raised on the milk of Christianity, and one of the American shaykhs providing a strange theoretical grounding for every corruption.
- Their stance towards the evidence: It is pointed out that these people are distinguished by lying and by audacity against points of consensus, that they discard many rulings on the claim that they are solitary reports, that they turn away from the statements of the scholars of all the schools, and that they bring weak statements or statements with no chain of transmission.
Returning to the topic of the probative force of the solitary report:
After this digression, the speaker returns to the topic of the probative force of the solitary report in al-Risalah.
- The hadith of Anas on the prohibition of wine: He cites the hadith of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) about the prohibition of wine: a single person came to them and informed them that wine had been prohibited, so they broke the jars filled with it in obedience to the command of Allah the Exalted.
- The strength of the argument: He shows the strength of this hadith as evidence for the probative force of the solitary report, since the Companions, who were people of knowledge and virtue, did not hesitate to carry out the command and did not require that they hear it directly from the Prophet ﷺ or from a group; rather, they were content with the report of one person.
- A comparison between the Companions’ compliance and the Americans’ stance on prohibiting alcohol: He compares the Companions’ compliance with the command of Allah the Exalted prohibiting wine with the stance of the Americans, who rejected the Congress’s decision to prohibit alcohol and held million-strong demonstrations until the decision was reversed.
- The response to those who require more than one report in definitive matters: He responds to those who require more than one report in definitive matters, showing that the Companions abandoned the obligation of facing Bayt al-Maqdis on the basis of a single report, namely the change of the qiblah to the Ka’bah.
- The hadith of ‘Ali on the days of Tashriq: He cites the hadith of ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), who informed the people during the days of Tashriq that they are days of eating and drinking and that fasting on them is not permissible; the people abided by that report even though the Prophet ﷺ was present and able to inform them himself or through a group.
- The hadith of Abu Mirba’ al-Ansari on the standing at ‘Arafah: He cites the hadith of Abu Mirba’ al-Ansari, who informed the people at ‘Arafah that the Prophet ﷺ commanded them to stand at their sacred sites, and they accepted his report and acted on it.
- The mission of Abu Bakr and ‘Ali to the Hajj: The story is mentioned of the mission of Abu Bakr and ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with them) to the Hajj: Abu Bakr taught the people the rites of Hajj and informed them, on behalf of the Prophet ﷺ, of their rights and duties, and ‘Ali recited to them verses from Surat Bara’ah; the people accepted from them both, though each was a single individual.
- Conclusion: At the end of this part, al-Shafi’i stresses that the Prophet ﷺ would send only a single person by whose report the proof was established against those to whom he was sent, and that these evidences show the probative force of the solitary report.
Some additional benefits:
- A warning against the attack on the Salafi trend.
- Showing the importance of holding fast to the truth and not diluting it.
- A warning against allying with the people of falsehood against Ahl al-Sunnah.
- A warning against the Americanized trend.
- Stressing the probative force of the solitary report in legal rulings.
- Showing the standing of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and their eagerness to follow the truth.
We ask Allah the Exalted to grant us success in understanding His Book and the Sunnah of His Prophet ﷺ, and to make us among those who follow them.
All parts of Summary of the Explanation of al-Risala by Shaykh Dr. Ahmad al-Naqeeb