Narrating Hadith Without Reference

This should not be done as one needs to be confident regarding Hadith authenticity.

Firstly, it is important for people who narrate a Hadith, especially in Islamic classes, to have some idea of its authenticity. It is acceptable for a person who has been asked about Hadith authenticity in a class to say that I will look into it and get back to you. It is unreasonable to expect every teacher in every class to know the precise reference of every Hadith.

However, it is reasonable to expect the teacher to research the Hadith, find the reference for it and provide it to the questioner. Additionally, it is good practice for a teacher who knows that a particular Hadith will be narrated in class to thoroughly reference it beforehand. The teacher should not narrate Hadith without reference when it can be avoided.

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: كَفَى بِالْمَرْءِ كَذِبًا أَنْ يُحَدِّثَ بِكُلِّ مَا سَمِعَ

“Abu Hurairah said that the Prophet ﷺ said: it is enough of a lie for a person to narrate everything that he hears.” (Sahih Muslim, Chapter 3, Prohibition of Narrating Everything One Hears).

Commenting on the Hadith in Sahih Muslim, Imam al-Nawawi said:

قَالَ الْعُلَمَاءُ يَنْبَغِي لِمَنْ أَرَادَ رِوَايَةِ حَدِيثٍ أَوْ ذَكَرَهُ أَنْ يَنْظُرَ فَإِنْ كَانَ صَحِيحًا أَوْ حَسَنًا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَذَا أَوْ فَعَلَهُ أَوْ نَحْوَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ صِيَغِ الْجَزْمِ وَإِنْ كَانَ ضَعِيفًا فَلَا يَقُلْ قَالَ أَوْ فَعَلَ أَوْ أَمَرَ أَوْ نَهَى وَشِبْهَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ صِيَغِ الْجَزْمِ بَلْ يَقُولُ رُوِيَ عَنْهُ كَذَا أَوْ جَاءَ عَنْهُ كَذَا أَوْ يُرْوَى أَوْ يُذْكَرُ أَوْ يُحْكَى أَوْ يقال أوبلغنا وَمَا أَشْبَهَهُ وَاللَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ أَعْلَمُ

“The Ulema have said that a person who wants to narrate a Hadith or mention a Hadith must look into it. If it is Sahih or Hasan, then one narrates it by saying the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said such and such or done such and such or the like of it using words of certainty. And if the hadith is weak, then he is not to say (the Prophet ﷺ ) said or done or commanded or prohibited or the like of that using words of certainty, rather he is to say it has been narrated regarding (the Prophet ﷺ ) or it has been mentioned regarding (the Prophet ﷺ ) or it is narrated or it is mentioned or it is said or it has reached us or the like of it. And Allah (Most High) knows best.”  (Imam al-Nawawi, Sharh Muslim, Vol. 1, pg. 71).

In the Nass (text) above, Imam al-Nawawi mentions the well-established principle that the onus of referencing Hadith and proving its validity is upon the person narrating it. Unfortunately, there is widespread ignorance regarding Hadith in our time. Therefore, some misguided people respond to questions regarding Hadith, they narrate, by putting the onus on the questioner. They ask the questioner to prove that it is not a sound Hadith. This completely contradicts the teachings of Quran and Hadith as well as the Imams of Hadith.

If this approach was correct, then anyone could say whatever they want and could not be asked to prove it. This contradicts the way of the Sahabah (May Allah Most High be pleased with them). They used to put the onus on the one making the claim to prove it.

Imam Ali al-Qari also commented on this Hadith saying:

بِكُلِّ مَا سَمِعَ: يَعْنِي: لَوْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِلْمَرْءِ كَذِبٌ إِلَّا تَحْدِيثُهُ بِكُلِّ مَا سَمِعَ مِنْ غَيْرِ تَيَقُّنٍ أَنَّهُ صِدْقٌ أَمْ كَذِبٌ، لَكَفَاهُ مِنَ الْكَذِبِ أَنْ لَا يَكُونَ بَرِيئًا مِنْهُ، وَهَذَا زَجْرٌ عَنِ التَّحْدِيثِ بِشَيْءٍ لَمْ يُعْلَمْ صِدْقُهُ، بَلْ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَبْحَثَ فِي كُلِّ مَا سَمِعَ خُصُوصًا فِي أَحَادِيثِ النَّبِيِّ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

“If a person told no lie other than narrating everything he hears without verifying whether it is true or false then that is sufficient a lie for him to be guilty of it (of lying). This is a warning against narrating something that is not known to be true, rather it is incumbent upon a person to research what he hears, especially regarding Hadith of the Prophet ﷺ.” (Imam Ali al-Qari, Mirqaat al-Mafaateeh, Vol. 1, pg. 240).

Imam Ali al-Qari further emphasises the fact that the onus is upon the one narrating Hadith. The Imam clarifies that this is an obligation. In reality, we should not have to remind people of such teachings. Since our love for our Prophet ﷺ should be sufficient to make us incredibly protective regarding anything attributed to him ﷺ.

Strangely, we often find those who speak most about the love of the Prophet ﷺ demonstrate the least care regarding the authenticity of Hadith. They attribute to the Prophet ﷺ without caution and narrate Hadith without reference.

One must observe a couple of very important points when referencing Hadith. Firstly, you reference back to original sources. Meaning a Hadith book that has the chains of narration. Not secondary or tertiary books that are narrating from those original sources.

Secondly, ensure that the original source is a well-known book from a well-known author. One must establish these two even before any consideration is given to the Sanad (chain of narration) mentioned.

For a learned person, who has access to the Arabic books, to simply reference a Hadith to a contemporary scholar is concerning. Rather one must look for the original Hadith reference. Why not adhere to the methodology of the Hadith scholars? For a learned person this methodology should be absolutely clear. Thus, there is no excuse for failing to follow it.

We must maintain this methodology in order to safeguard the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. We cannot accept it when people of learning narrate Hadith without reference. This is incredibly important otherwise false narrations will be attributed to our beloved Prophet ﷺ.

Moreover, when it becomes acceptable for people to reference Hadith to contemporary scholars and not the original sources, the entire system of Hadith verification will break down.

And Allah (Most High) knows best.

– Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (10.07.2021)

See also:

Referencing Hadith Correctly

See also (video):