The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 18
Seal of the Prophets - Volume I 18 be deemed acceptable or not. Moreover, this Ḥadīth goes so far as to state, that an individual who relays a narration merely on the basis of hearsay is as responsible for the propagation of falsehood as is the individual who initially fabricated the lie. In short, both the Holy Qur’ān as well as the Aḥādīth support the concept that all news should be confirmed and verified in accordance with both Riwāyat and Dirāyat. Therefore, according to this principle, there are numerous examples found in Ḥadīth where the companions of the Holy Prophet sa and Muslim research scholars following in time, always paid particular attention to the aspect of Dirāyat along with that of Riwāyat. Many times, although an account appeared solid in reference to Riwāyat , it would be disregarded on the basis of Dirāyat. The following Ḥadīth is an example: ُ عَن ْ اَبِی ھُرَیْرَة َ قَال َ قَال َ رَسُوْل ُ اللّٰه ِ صَلَّی اللّٰه ُ عَلَیْه ِ وَسَلَّم َ الْوُضُوْء ُ مِمَّا مَسَّت ِ النَّار َ ُأ مِن َ الْحَمِیْم ِ. . . . . فَقَال ا ُأ مِن َ الدُّھْن ِ اَنَتَوَضَّ ا فَقَال َ لَه ُ ابْن ُ عَبَّاس ٍ یَا اَبَا ھُرَیْرَة َ اَنَتَوَضَّ ِ اَبُو ْ عِیْسٰی وَاَكْثَر ُ اَھْل ِ الْعِلم ِ عَلی ٰ تَرْك ِ الْوُضُوْء In a gathering, Abū Hurairah ra mentioned that the Holy Prophet sa would state that after the use of anything which is touched [cooked] by fire, ablution becomes obligatory. Upon this, Ibni ‘Abbās ra interjected and said, “Should we then perform ablution after the use of butter or oil? Shall we perform ablution after the use of boiling water?” After writing this narration, Imām Tirmidhī rh states that among the Muslims, “A majority of the scholars are united in the belief that ablution is not necessary after the use of something which has been prepared over fire. ” 1 Therefore, from this Ḥadīth it becomes apparent that the narration relayed by Ḥaḍrat Abū Hurairah ra , who is renowned for narrating more Aḥādīth than any other companion of the Holy Prophet sa , was rejected by Ḥaḍrat Ibni ‘Abbās ra on the basis of common sense. Firstly, the fact that a substance has been prepared over fire has no relation whatsoever to the fact that after its use, one must renew his ablution. Secondly, if the basis of religion is ease and facilitation, a statement of this nature could not possibly be attributed to the 1 Sunanut-Tirmidhī, Kitābuṭ-Ṭahārah, Bābu Mā Jā’a fil-Wuḍū’i mimmā Ghayyaratin-Nāru, Ḥadīth No. 79