in matters of religion and in what has come from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his Companions, on the basis of some doubtful interpretation—not by way of flat rejection and denial, for that would be disbelief.

Ruling on the ḥadīth of an innovator

The majority hold that the ḥadīth related by an innovator is rejected. Some scholars, however, allow it if the narrator is known for truthful speech and guarded tongue. Others say: should he deny a matter that is mass-transmitted in the Law and necessarily known to be part of the religion, his report is rejected; if he is free of that fault, his narration is accepted—even if his opponents deem him a disbeliever—provided he is accurate, pious, God-fearing, scrupulous, and upright.

The preferred view is that if he calls people to his innovation and promotes it, his narration is rejected; if he does not, it is accepted—unless the report he transmits supports his innovation, in which case it is categorically rejected.

In sum, the leading scholars differ over whether to accept ḥadīth from the people of innovation and capricious desire.