The virtue of Abu Ubayda and using Khabar al-Ahad as a proof
1964 – “This is the trustworthy one of this Ummah. Meaning Abu Ubayda.”
Narrated by Muslim (1297) and Hakim (3/267) and Ahmad (3/125) and Abu Yaa’la (2/831) from the different routes on the authority of Hamad bin Salama on the authority of ‘Anas : “The people of Yemen came to the Messenger – sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – and said : Send a man with us who will teach us the Sunnah and al-Islaam.
Then the Messenger took the hand of Abu Ubayda and said : “ This is the trustworthy one of this Ummah. ” Then the Messenger mentioned him. This wording is from Muslim, and from the wording of Haakim, ‘teach us the Qur’aan.’
And Haakim said : ‘Authentic according to the conditions of Muslim, but Muslim & Bukhari did not narrate this hadeeth with mentioning the word: ‘Qur’aan.’
I say : and in this hadeeth there is an important benefit, the Khabar al-Ahad is used as a proof in ‘Aqeedah, like it is used as a proof in Fiqh rulings, since we know – out of necessity that the Prophet – sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – did not send Abu Ubayda to the people of Yemen just to teach them fiqh rulings, but also to teach the ‘Aqeedah. So if the khabar al-Ahad did not necessitate knowledge of the Sharia in ‘Aqeedah, then sending Abu Ubayda to teach them by himself would be similar to mockery. And this is what the One who established the Sharia’ is free from. So it is established with certainty that the Khabar al-Ahad necessitates knowledge, and that is my intent. I have two well known booklets which have been printed many times regarding this important issue, so anyone who wants a further explanation can refer back to them.
Silsilah al-Ahadeeth as-Saheehah vol. 4 hadeeth no. 1964 – By Shaykh Muhammad Nasur-Deen al-Albaani
Translated by Abbas Abu Yahya
All Praise belongs to Allaah, may His peace and blessings be upon our final Prophet Muhammad, his family, his companions and all those who follow his guidance.