Al-Mustadrak of al-Ḥākim and a New Verification by Ṣāliḥ al-Laḥḥām!
Assessing the latest attempt to republish al-Mustadrak and the editorial liberties taken in its presentation.
A new verification of al-Mustadrak has recently been published by Ṣāliḥ al-Laḥḥām — the proprietor of Dār al-ʿUthmāniyyah for Publishing — and this edition raises serious concerns.
It does not differ from prior verifications except that the verifier inserted the rulings of Shaykh al-Albānī and others on select ḥadīths. These interpolations bring no benefit to the book, especially given the extensive critiques leveled at Shaykh al-Albānī’s own judgments.
The verifier states that he compared the text against several manuscripts, yet he admits — in the name of “academic honesty” — that he did not collate the entire work. What value does such a verification hold if the manuscript tradition was not examined in full?
Worse still, how could the verifier — may Allah forgive him — allow himself to omit al-Ḥākim’s introduction to the book altogether?
It is impermissible for an editor to weave the rulings of contemporary scholars or anyone else into the main body of the original text, even if he distinguishes these additions through typography or other markings.
Finally, I appeal to my brother Ṣāliḥ and to others who have yet to master the principles of verification and the foundations of knowledge: do not preoccupy yourselves with endeavors beyond your expertise. Devote your energies to what you truly command, for otherwise you are merely blackening pages with ink.
Written by: Abū Ṣuhayb al-Ḥāyik