The Term "Lā Ba’sa Bih" and its Implication According to Al-Ḥāfiẓ Al-Dhahabī: An Applied Study Based on his Book "Mīzān Al-Iʿtidāl Fī Naqd Al-Rijāl" 10.35781/1637-000-136-003

Abstract

This study explores the term "Lā ba'sa bih" ("There is no harm in him") as used by the renowned Imam and hadith scholar al-Hafiz al-Dhahabī (may Allah have mercy on him). The research adopts an inductive, critical, and analytical approach by compiling the narrators about whom al-Dhahabī used this term, comparing his evaluations with the statements of other hadith critics, and analyzing the findings to arrive at a conclusion for each narrator based on their condition. The number of narrators studied reached ten, and it became evident that al-Dhahabī generally used this term for narrators who are truthful (ṣaduq) but have some weakness they form the majority. A smaller portion were of a lower grade, and these were discussed in a separate section. The research begins with a brief biography of al-Dhahabī, an explanation of the linguistic meaning of the term, and a general overview of its technical use among hadith scholars. The study concludes with several findings, most notably: al-Dhahabī was moderate in his approach to al-jarḥ wa al-ta dīl (criticism and accreditation of narrators), and the narrators he described with this term generally ranged between trustworthy (thiqa), truthful with slight weakness (ṣaduq with leniency), or ṣaduq who narrates some munkar (rejected reports). Rarely did the term refer to someone considered weak (da if).