In closing this group of sound reports—whether sound in and of themselves or sound by virtue of corroboration—it is necessary to raise one important point so that the discussion may be complete. I say, then:
The hadith scholars—may Allah reward them well—have adhered to extremely important methodological rules in order to preserve the legacy of the Prophet of this nation, safeguarding it from addition or omission. Just as it is unlawful to attribute to him ﷺ what he never said, it is equally unlawful to neglect or discard what he actually did say. The truth lies between these two extremes, as the Most High declares: “Thus We have made you a balanced community” (Q 2:143).
There is no doubt that attaining this balance—steering a middle course between excess and negligence—and distinguishing the sound from the weak cannot be achieved through ignorance or caprice, but only through knowledge and adherence. Such knowledge is possible only through sound fiqh derived from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and that fiqh cannot be acquired except by knowing his statements, actions, and tacit approvals.
Accordingly, the task can be met only by jurists who are also learned in hadith science and its principles, or at the very least by those who follow their lead and walk their path. How eloquent is the saying:
“The people of hadith are the Prophet’s own people;
Though they never met his person, they breathe his breaths.”
They are the ones meant in the well-known hadith—despite the disagreement over its authenticity1—
“Every generation will be borne by its trustworthy ones, who will purge this knowledge of the distortions of extremists, the fabrications of deceivers, and the misinterpretations of the ignorant.”
They are likewise singled out in the sound hadith: “Allah does not take away knowledge by snatching it from the people; He takes away knowledge by taking away the scholars. When no scholar remains, the people will take ignorant leaders, who will be asked and will issue fatwas without knowledge; they will go astray and lead others astray.” Reported by