Ḥasan li-Dhātihi: Definition and Ruling

1. Introduction

A narrator may be trustworthy, yet less precise in remembering Hadith than another trustworthy narrator.

We will see how this difference affects the classification when the other required conditions are present. This introduces the definition and ruling of ḥasan li-dhātihi (حسن لذاتہ).

2. A Hadith example

إِنَّ أَبْوَابَ الْجَنَّةِ تَحْتَ ظِلَالِ السُّيُوفِ. (Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, 1659)
Translation: Indeed, the gates of Paradise are under the shadows of swords.

One narrator of this report is Jaʿfar ibn Sulaymān. The example concerns his ḍabṭ (ضبط): precision in remembering Hadith.

3. Definition of ḥasan li-dhātihi

A Hadith is ḥasan li-dhātihi (حسن لذاتہ) when a narrator has relatively lower precision and the other four conditions of ṣaḥīḥ li-dhātihi are present.

Khafīf al-ḍabṭ (خفیف الضبط) means less strong memory compared with a fully precise narrator. It does not mean being unable to preserve Hadith at all.

4. The other four conditions

Even with relatively lower precision, these four conditions are required:

• Upright narrators: they are trustworthy.
• Connected sanad: no narrator is omitted from the sequence.
• No hidden defect affects soundness.
• A trustworthy narrator's report does not contradict a more reliable narrator's report.

Relatively lower memory alone is not enough; the other four conditions must also be present.

5. Why is this an example of ḥasan li-dhātihi?

In this example, Jaʿfar ibn Sulaymān has relatively lower strength of memory, while the other four conditions are present.

This is why the report is used here as an example of ḥasan li-dhātihi. The difference is in precision; trustworthiness and a connected sanad remain required.

6. The distinction from ṣaḥīḥ li-dhātihi

• Ṣaḥīḥ li-dhātihi: every narrator preserves the Hadith very carefully, with its sanad, in memory or writing.
• Ḥasan li-dhātihi: a narrator has relatively lower strength of memory.

Both require the other four conditions. If a narrator is omitted from the sanad, that is not merely a small difference in precision permitting this classification.

7. The ruling on ḥasan li-dhātihi

Ḥasan li-dhātihi is ḥujjah and mustadall (حجت و مستدل): it may be used as evidence. Acting upon it is obligatory, meaning required.

In this respect it is like ṣaḥīḥ li-dhātihi, but lower in evidential strength. A lower rank here does not mean being unacceptable.

8. Summary

• Definition: a narrator has relatively lower precision, with the other four conditions present.
• Reason for the example: Jaʿfar ibn Sulaymān's relative difference in memory, with the other conditions retained.
• Ruling: usable as evidence and obligatory to act upon, but lower in strength than ṣaḥīḥ li-dhātihi.

Keep both the difference in precision and the presence of the other conditions in view.