Criticism and Defense Regarding Imam al-Tirmidhi
Ibn ‘Imad al-Hanbali says: “Imam al-Tirmidhi held a distinct position among his contemporaries. In memorization and precision, he was a sign and example.” [Shadharat al-Dhahab]
Imam al-Tirmidhi is unanimously regarded as a trustworthy hadith scholar, a critic of hadith, and a religious Imam. His compilations are famous and well-known. Despite his widespread reputation and status, Ibn Hazm stated in the book of al-Ittisal under the chapter of inheritance laws that al-Tirmidhi is a majhool (unknown) narrator. The scholars have objected to this statement.
◈ Al-Dhahabi: In Mizan al-I‘tidal, he writes: “Al-Tirmidhi is a hadith memorizer and among the notable scholars. He is the author of al-Jami‘ and is unanimously considered trustworthy. The claim by Ibn Hazm that al-Tirmidhi is unknown is not worth considering. Ibn Hazm neither knew al-Tirmidhi nor was he aware of the existence of Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi and ‘Ilal al-Tirmidhi.” [Mizan al-I‘tidal]
◈ In Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala’, al-Dhahabi, after mentioning the virtues and faults of Ibn Hazm, states: “I love Abu Muhammad Ibn Hazm for his love of authentic hadith and his knowledge of it, even though I do not agree with him due to the numerous errors he made in the science of narrators, hadith defects, and matters of principles and branches. I categorically state his errors in many issues, but I do not declare him a disbeliever nor misguided. I hope for Allah’s pardon and forgiveness for him. I acknowledge and affirm his sharp intellect and vast knowledge. I saw that he quoted someone who said that the greatest and most important book is the Muwatta of Imam Malik. He commented: rather, the greatest books are Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sahih Ibn al-Sakan, al-Muntaqa of Ibn al-Jarud, and al-Muntaqa of Qasim ibn Asbagh. Then come Sunan Abi Dawood, Sunan al-Nasa’i, the Musannaf of Qasim ibn Asbagh, and the Musannaf of Abu Ja‘far al-Tahawi.”
Al-Dhahabi says: Ibn Hazm did not mention Ibn Majah or Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, as these two books did not reach al-Andalus until after his death. [Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala’]
◈ Hafiz Ibn Hajar: In Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, he writes: Al-Khalili declared al-Tirmidhi as unanimously trustworthy, but Ibn Hazm admitted his ignorance about this because in the book of inheritance in al-Ittisal, he labeled Muhammad ibn ‘Isa al-Tirmidhi as majhool. No one should say perhaps Ibn Hazm didn’t know him or his memorization and works, for he used similar expressions about many famous trustworthy hadith scholars such as Abu al-Qasim al-Baghawi, Isma‘il ibn Muhammad al-Saffar, and Abu al-‘Abbas al-Asam, etc.
What is surprising is that Hafiz Ibn al-Faradi mentioned al-Tirmidhi in his book al-Mu’talif wa al-Mukhtalif and highlighted his scholarly status—so how did Ibn Hazm miss such information? [Tahdhib al-Tahdhib]
It should be noted that such ignorance regarding renowned scholars is not unique to Ibn Hazm. It is reported that Imam al-Bayhaqi did not possess the books Sunan al-Nasa’i, Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, and Sunan Ibn Majah. However, he did have al-Mustadrak ‘ala al-Sahihayn of al-Hakim, from which he narrated many hadiths. [Tadhkirat al-Huffaz, Introduction to Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi 1/271]
