# Can a hadith be rejected because it goes against reason?

*Reason as a test of hadith in a classical text*

- URL: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/9cydtoroy7q/s/1/
- Date: 2020-10-09 · Kind: lesson · Transcript tier: machine · Recording: Sahih hadith criteria: Cannot go against reason | Mufti Abu Layth (0:01–4:13)
- Status: general teaching
- Watch from the start of the segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cYDToRoy7Q&t=1s
- Recording page: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/9cydtoroy7q/

**Topics:** Text criticism, reason and the Quran; Reason and revelation

**Summary (not a quotation; machine-made, unchecked):** Mufti Abu Layth says reason is what immediately tells you whether a hadith is sahih, and that an early classical text on hadith says so.

**Checked position (checked by two independent reviews, not by the channel):** Mufti Abu Layth says reason is what immediately tells you whether a hadith is sahih or not.

**Evidence, his words at 3:37:** “just so you are aware that reason is what immediately tells you whether the Hadith is sah or not” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cYDToRoy7Q&t=217s)

## Longer summary

Mufti Abu Layth answers people who ask how he can sometimes turn away a hadith on the basis of reason. Mufti shows a classical, authoritative text on hadith methodology (its title is garbled in the captions [?]) and reads its division of reports into those known to be true, those known to be false, and those whose status is uncertain. Mufti points out that the text says a report is known to be false through the intellect rejecting it, before the chain is even considered, and that it gives the example of a report claiming human bodies have always existed. Mufti adds that the text also rejects reports that clash with the Quran, giving 'no coercion in Islam' as his own example. Mufti says this shows reason is what immediately tells you whether a hadith is sahih, and that this is the hadith tradition, not something he invented.

## Sources and names cited

- aql (reason)
- judging a report by its content (matn)
- sahih
- Quran 2:256 (no compulsion in religion): https://quran.com/2/256

## Transcript (machine tier, 0:01–4:13)

[0:00] I want to share this right A lot of times people have asked me about reason the voice of reason and they've asked me that look uh you know you say things like oh Hadith if Hadith come and what about and you know how can you sometimes turn away Hadith based on reason this is the Kea right here a very established uh authoritative text within written by on the science of how to know what is right and wrong within

[0:38] Hadith and the whole uh structures which surround it now when he begins quite early in he speaks about what what are the different kind of texts you have he speaks about this concept ofat and he is one of the first people that introduces this concept of and I've discussed that howan didn't accept the other people didn't accept I don't believe there's any such thing as M but he does discuss that separately then there is this discussion of which is really all Hadith which exist he says

[1:17] that so you've got these are of three categories three types and he mentions those which you know they are going to be authentic um and those which you know are inauthentic and those which you're uncertain of but what I want to bring your attention to is this paragraph here and he says and that is the category which it is known clearly like you clearly know these are false these

[1:52] Hadith and how Allah does he say it's through the chain we haven't even got to the chain chain chain chain chain what is

[2:20] this this is not to do with the chain straight away the text you know this is FID B invalid why the intellect the reason voice of reason rejects it and then he mentions uh right that's to do with this topics and he gives an example um he says so for

[2:57] example if somebody said human bodies have always existed now imagine this a Hadith that human bodies have always existed he says that the voice of reason wouldn't accept this because you know that human bodies haven't always existed so you'd reject that um and then he goes on all those Hadith which clash with the Quran you know are invalid like there's no Co coercion in Islam uh but obviously um yeah the cision thing I'm giving the example he just mentions that which

[3:37] clashes with the Quran but about the bodies uh he actually cites that example so this is clearly highlighting as an example just just so you are aware that reason is what immediately tells you whether the Hadith is sah or not so when people ask that is is this something Muti is coming up with of course it isn't this is not just mu Abu this is the tradition of Hadith this is one of the earliest

[4:12] authoritative texts Within by known as right this by the way is just as a follow-up question follow-up point is something uh since I opened the book it's about he says if a does a rewire from somebody else it does not mean that person is vouched for and he says um he

## Cite

Mufti Abu Layth Archive, segment 9cYDToRoy7Q/s/1. https://muftiabulayth.org/r/9cydtoroy7q/s/1/

Not a fatwa: these answers were given to specific people at specific times. Ask a qualified scholar about your own situation.