Double sin for Jaahil: Understanding the hadith

Classification of this hadith: Matrook (Very Weak)

(ابْن عَبَّاس ذَنْب الْعَالم وذنب الْجَاهِل ذنبان الْعَالم يعذب على ركُوبه الذَّنب وَالْجَاهِل يعذب على ركُوبه الذَّنب وَترك الْعلم (الفردوس بمأثور الخطاب

Ibn Abbas narrated that the sin of the scholar is a single sin, and the sin of the ignorant person is double. The scholar is punished for committing the sin, whereas the ignorant person is punished for committing the sin and failing to learn. (al-Daylami, 3165).

Although some scholars mentioned that the Hadith is weak, it seems more correct to say it is very weak, as it has a Matrook narrator in the chain.

(وفيه جويبر بن سعيد قال الذهبي: قال الدارقطني وغيره متروك (فيض القدير

It has Juwaybir bin Saeed in the chain. (Imam) al-Dhahabi said that al-Dar Qutni said he is Matrook (very weak). (Imam al-Manawi, Fayd al-Qadeer).

As well as this major issue with the chain, there is another significant problem with this narration. It seems to be difficult to trace this Hadith back to a primary source with a complete chain of narrators, unless this is done then the Hadith will be considered baseless.

It is important to note that although this particular Hadith is weak, the fact that people who do not study their Deen have greater sin is established through other evidence. This is because the Prophet commanded us to study Islam and if we contradict a Prophetic command then it is sinful.

طَلَبُ الْعِلْمِ فَرِيضَةٌ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ

“Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim.” (Ibn Majah, 224)

Allah (Most High) knows best.

– Answered by Shaykh Noor ud-deen (04.01.2021)

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