روایت حدیث میں عدالتِ صحابہؓ کے متعلق فقہاءومحدثین کی آراء کاتحقیقی وتنقیدی جائزہ

A Critical Analysis of the Opinions of Jurists and Muhaddithin Regarding the Adalt-e-Sahaba (Trustworthiness) in the Narration of Hadith

Abstract

The foundation of Islam rests on two primary sources: the Quran and the Sunnah. Both of these sources have been transmitted to the Ummah through the continuous chain of the Sahaba. The exclusion of the Sahaba from this chain would disrupt its continuity, emphasizing the pivotal role of the Sahaba as the first pious generation of Islam.The unanimous consensus among scholars is that all the Sahaba were trustworthy (siqqa), just (aadil), and believers (momin) specially in the reporting of deen. This conviction is grounded in the Quran, Sunnah, and the acceptance and narration of these qualities by our pious predecessors. In this article, we discussed the concept of 'adaala' (trustworthiness) among the Sahaba, drawing insights from the statements of jurists (fuqaha) and hadith scholars (muhaddithin). Almost universally, fuqaha affirm the trustworthiness of the Sahaba in reporting hadith. However, certain deviant sects, such as the Khawarij, Mu'tazilah, and Rawafiz hold an opposing view, arguing that not all Sahaba are trustworthy. This perspective, however, stands in stark contradiction to the consensus upheld by mainstream Islamic scholarship. It is essential to clarify that acknowledging the trustworthiness of the Sahaba in transmitting hadith does not imply that they were infallible or immune to major sins. Sunni hadith critics have assessed the transmission of the Sahaba and concluded that, despite their human fallibility, they collectively proved to be truthful transmitters of hadith. The reliability of the companions is not merely a theological axiom; rather, it is substantiated by textual and historical indicators, as well as explicit references in the Quran and Sunnah. The consensus among scholars further solidifies the status of the Sahaba as reliable narrators. In conclusion, the trustworthiness of the Sahaba is a foundational element in the preservation of Islamic knowledge, and their contributions remain integral to understanding and practicing the teachings of Islam.