Tools of Ijtihad: Hadith Ahad

Hadith Ahad refers to any hadith that are not classified as mutawatir that has an indication with a measure of uncertainty or a hadith that reached us from one (hadith ghorib), two (hadith aziz) or more narrations (hadith masyur) but not large enough to make it impossible for all of the narrators to have conspired in falsehood - whether intentionally or unintentionally.

The most famous example of Ahad Hadiths is the one in which the Messenger of Allah SWT, said that deeds are judged according to the intentions behind them. The only authentic narration of this Hadith, as mentioned by Ibn Hajar was transmitted on the authority of ‘Umar ibn Khattab.

There are differences of opinion over the authority of Ahad Hadith among the various mujtahid imams and their mazhab.

1) The Hanafi School - Ahad Hadith with no other supporting evidence(Ijma' Qiyas etc) only makes a thing wajib or makruh tahrimi but not Fardh or Haram.

(there are 7 Ahkam (hukum) in the Hanafi School -http://ilmuislamuallaf.blogspot.com/…/ahkam-plural-hukum.ht…)

2) The Maliki School - Ahad Hadith with no other supporting evidence only makes a thing makruh or mustahab. It can only make something Haram or Fardh if supported by Amal of Medina, Qiyas or other Ijtihad tools.

3) Shafii and Hanbali School - Ahad Hadith on its own can make a thing Fard/Wajib or Haram.

For most of the School of Thoughts like Hanafi, Maliki Shafii and most of the Hanbali, except the Zahiri School of Thought, the Ahad Hadith on their own cannot be used to establish essential Creed(Akidah) due to the element of speculation (Zanni) in them.


Wallahu'alam