Abu Khalid al-Wasiti and Musnad Zayd

Reposted

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I wonder what are the most authentic channels which the Musnad of Sayyiduna-l-Imam Zayd Ibn 'Ali ('alayhi-s-salam) is reported ? I ask this because somme Sunnis have said that Abu Khalid Al Wasiti is a good man but weak in transmission. I am looking for any other chain to authenticate the book according to their criteria, but I think many scholars said he is weak just because he was Shiite. Baraka Llahu fikum !

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Wa alaykum as salaamu wa rahmatullahi!

Abu Khalid Amr bin Khalid al-Waasiti is subject to scrutiny according to the Sunni traditionalists and verifiers. They narrate that Waki’ attributed fabrication to him. Yahya bin Mu’in said: “He is a habitual liar who is not reliable.” Ahmed bin Hanbal said: “He is a habitual liar.” An-Nisaa`i said: “He is a Kufan who is not reliable.” Al-Haakim said: “He narrated fabricated traditions from Zayd.” Adh-Dhahabi called him a Rafidi. These are the statements of Sunni traditionalists and verifiers regarding Abu Khalid.

We call into question these statements about Abu Khalid because:
1.) When Ibn Abi Haatim mentioned Waki’ in the latter’s biography, he narrated that Waki’ never mentioned any bad things about anyone. This would negate the view that he attributed fabrication to Abu Khalid. Also, in this biography, Waki’ never mentioned anything about Abu Khalid.
2.) Waki’ was a Zaydi so it is unlikely that he would have weakened any narration by the student of Imam Zayd, abu Khalid. Also, Zaydi sources do not record any criticism of Abu Khalid by Waki’.
3.) Calling him a Kufan is the same as calling him a Shia. Therefore, attributing fabrication and lies to him because of his sect is extremism and unfair bias; especially when many of the same traditionalists would authenticate a narration of a Nasibi (enemy of Ali and Ahl al-Bayt) and a Khariji before they authenticate a report from a Shia.
4.) He cannot be considered a Rafidi because the Rafidis were the enemies of Imam Zayd and the Zaydis. One of the proofs is that Abu Khalid narrated that the feet are to be washed in wudu but the Rafidis collectively relate that the feet are to be wiped. How could Abu Khalid be a Rafidi when he reported something contrary to their doctrine?
5.) As for the statements of Ahmed and Yahya who attribute lies to him, this is due to their own bias against him as well as the fact that his doctrine was contrary to their own.

This is coupled with the reality that none of the imams of Ahl al-Bayt (contemporary to him and after him) criticised his narrations or questioned his reliability. Indeed, some imams have narrated from him. It is said that Abu Khalid’s reliability is based on consensus of Ahl al-Bayt. The consensus of Ahl al-Bayt is a proof based on the proofs such as Hadith ath-Thaqalayn and others.

The Musnad of Imam Zayd is narrated through Abu Khalid. I do not know of any other narration outside of his.

And Allah knows best!

IRS