This Is the Religion: Ali ibn Al-Madini on Judging His Own Father

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Imam Al-Khatib Al-Baghdadi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

There is no one among the people of hadith who showed favoritism (or behaved in a biased manner) in hadith — neither toward his father, his brother, nor his son. Ali ibn Abdillah Al-Madini, may Allah have mercy upon him, was an Imam of hadith in his era, however, not a letter is reported from him with regards to strengthening (the reliability of) his father; rather, the opposite of that is what has been narrated from him. [1]

Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: “Ali Ibn Al-Madini, may Allah have mercy upon him, was asked about his father, so he said: ‘Ask someone else’. They said: ‘We ask you (in particular)’. He lowered his head (in silence for a while), then he raised his head and said: “This is the religion, my father is weak (in hadith)”. [2] [End of quote]

It should never be forgotten that truth takes precedence over everything else. Whenever the need to bear witness against anyone, Insha’Allah we ask for Allāh’s assistance in doing so whether on this website or personal twitter accounts on behalf of everyone – whether a loved one or one at loggerheads with us.

[1] Sharaf Ashab al-Hadith p. 41
[2] Al-Majruhin 2/15