مرویات ابن لہیعہ کا حکم اور فقہائے احناف: تجزیاتی مطالعہ

The Status of the Narrations of Ibn Luhayʿah and the Juristic Position of the Ḥanafī School: An Analytical Study

Abstract

This research article critically evaluates the status of the narrations (riwayat) of Abdullah ibn Lahee’ah (d. 174 AH) from the perspective of Hanafi jurists (fuqaha). Ibn Lahee’ah, a prominent Qadi of Egypt and a narrator of the tabi‘ al-tabi‘in generation, has been a subject of intense discussion among hadith critics. While the majority of muhaddithun have declared him weak (da‘if) primarily due to the deterioration of his memory after his books were burned, the Hanafi school of law has adopted a more nuanced and practical approach. This study investigates the foundational principles of Hanafi usul al-fiqh and the rulings of leading Hanafi imams, including Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Abu Yusuf, Imam Muhammad, and later authorities such as Al-Kasani, Al-Marghinani, and Ibn Nujaym. The research concludes that Hanafi jurists do not outright reject Ibn Lahee’ah’s narrations. Instead, they classify them as da‘if but not matruk (abandoned). His narrations are accepted under specific conditions: (1) when they are corroborated by other narrations (shawahid or mutabi‘at), (2) when they do not contradict established principles of Hanafi fiqh or authentic qiyas, (3) when they pertain to legal rulings (ahkam) rather than beliefs, and (4) when the chain is free from other severe defects. Consequently, Ibn Lahee’ah’s narrations are often cited as supporting evidence (istidlal) or for establishing hasan li ghayrihi status. This research fills a significant gap in understanding how Hanafi jurists practically deal with borderline narrators in hadith, offering a balanced criterion between extreme rejection and unconditional acceptance.