Food For Thought: The narrations of two virtuous, reliable brothers

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Man ‘alima ḥujjatun ‘alā man lam ya‘lam, wa man ḥafiẓa ḥujjatun ‘alā man lam yaḥfaẓ

“The one who knows (or has detailed) knowledge (of something) is a proof against the one who does not have (detailed) knowledge (of that matter), and the one who has memorised (preserved something) is a proof against the one who has not memorised”.

This principle is taken from the texts of the Shariah. An example is the differing between two noble companions, Ibn Umar and Ibn Abbas. Bilal told Ibn Umar, and Umar narrated from him, that he entered the centre of the Kaba with the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and prayed two rak’ahs. He described precisely that there was about a forearm’s distance between him and the wall of the Kaba, with a column on his right and another on his left. This demonstrates that he had knowledge of the precise description of the Messenger’s prayer in that pure place.

When the Messenger, peace be upon him, exited with his companions, Ibn Umar asked Bilal, who informed him that the Messenger had indeed prayed two rak’ahs in this manner.

Ibn Abbas, on the other hand (i.e. when he reported this incident), stated that he did not enter the Kaba and that the Messenger only prayed in front of it, outside and facing it.

Both narrations are in the Sahih of Al-Imam Bukhari. After narrating the two reports from the two noble companions, both of whom are trustworthy, Al-Bukhari, may Allah have mercy upon him, stated which report the scholars relied upon. He noted that the one who affirmed (i.e. based on details) had knowledge, while the one who denied did not.

We do not question the latter about his lack of knowledge. However, we benefit from the one who possesses knowledge in a way that we cannot from the one who does not.

https://alathar.net/home/esound/index.php?op=codevi&coid=157884 paraphrased