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First Created: 5th August 2000
Last Modified: 7th September 2003
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It is interesting to note that Bukhari wrote a book about the narrators (Zuafa-us-sagher). What is even more interesting is that Bukhari's book condemns several narrators including: ... Abdul Malik bin Ameen ... as unreliable. However, the Hadith-collection of Bukhari in the its modern form actually includes many traditions narrated by these very individuals! Obviously, these traditions, which Bukhari rejected, were inserted in his book following his death.
a narrator called "Abdul Malik bin Ameen".
1. Did Al-Bukhari Say Abdul Malik Bin Ameen "Unreliable"?What is interesting is that there is no such name mentioned in Kitab al-Du`afa al-Saghir! There is no question of al-Bukhari "rejecting" his narrations or calling him "unreliable".
The closest name that we have in Kitab al-Du`afa al-Saghir is `Abd al-Malik bin A`yan. Al-Bukhari says:
217 - `Abd al-Malik Ibn A`yan: He was a shi`ah. Narrated from him Ibn `Uyaynah and Ibn Sumay`. He is acceptable/fair in hadith.[1]
In the footnotes we are provided with some more information:
217 - Abu Hatim said: His hadith is fair. Ibn Ma`in said: [??]. Another one said: truthful [??]. Abu Hatim said: One of the old shi`ah. His hadith is fair/acceptable. Narrated from him are the two Sufyans. They extracted/produced [Arabic: akhraja] his hadith accompanied with others in one hadith.[2]
Ibn Hajar said in his Taqrib al-Tahdhib:
1294 - `Abd al-Malik Ibn A`yan al-Kufi, the freed slave of Banu Shayban, truthful, shi`ah, one hadith of his is narrated in the two Sahihs...[3]
To sum up: There is no `Abd al-Malik bin Amin in Kitab al-Du`afa al-Saghir. The nearest sounding name that we found was `Abd al-Malik Ibn A`yan, who is acceptable in hadith even though he was a shi`ah, a pointed noted by both al-Bukhari, Ibn Hajar and other scholars of hadith.
2. Traditions Of `Abd al-Malik Ibn A`yan In The Sahih Of Al-BukhariAl-Bukhari narrated only one hadith through `Abd al-Malik Ibn A`yan.
The Prophet said, "Whoever takes the property of a Muslim by taking a false oath, will meet Allah Who will be angry with him." Then the Prophet recited the Verse:-- 'Verily those who purchase a small gain at the cost of Allah's Covenant and their oaths, they shall have no portion in the Hereafter, neither will Allah speak to them, nor look at them.' (3.77). [Kitab al-Tawheed, No. 6891]
The isnad bundle of this hadith is depicted below.
As it can be seen, al-Bukhari has collected this hadith 14 times, and 13 of them with isnads independent of `Abd al-Malik Ibn A`yan. This hadith is also transmitted by Ash`ath b. Qais via Shaqiq b. Salamah.
References
[1] Muhammad Ibn Isma`il al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Du`afa al-Saghir, 1976 (1396 H), Dar al-Wa`y, p. 73.
[2] ibid.
[3] Ahmed Ibn `Ali Ibn Hajar al-`Asqalani, Taqrib al-Tahdhib, Volume I, 1960, Al-Maktabat al-`Ilmiyyah: Al-Madinah, p. 517.