From Tafsir Ibn Kathir for Surat-Hud
Abu `Isa At-Tirmidhi recorded from Ibn `Abbas that Abu Bakr said, “O Messenger of Allah, verily your hair has turned gray.” The Prophet [sallahAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam] replied, “Surahs Hud, Al-Waqi`ah, Al-Mursalat, `Amma Yatasa’lun [An-Naba'] and Idhash-Shamsu Kuwwirat [At-Takwir] have turned my hair gray.” In another narration he said, ”Surah Hud and its sisters…”
*********From “An Introduction to the Science of Hadith” by Dr. Suhaib Hasan:
According to Ibn Kathir, if reporters disagree about a particular shaikh, or about some other points in the isnad or the text, in such a way that none of the opinions can be preferred over the others, and thus there is uncertainty about the isnad or text, such a hadith is called mudtarib (shaky).
For example, with regard to idtirab in the isnad, it is reported on the authority of Abu Bakr that he said, “O Messenger of Allah! I see you getting older?” He (sallahAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is reported to have replied, “What made me old are Surah Hud and its sister surahs.” Al-Daraqutni says,
“This is an example of a mudtarib hadith. It is reported through Abu Ishaq, but as many as ten different opinions are held about this isnad: some report it as mursal [i.e. the link between the Successor and the Prophet sallahAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam is missing], others as muttasil [i.e. uninterrupted chain of reporters]; some take it as musnad of Abu Bakr, others as musnad of Sa’d or ‘Aisha. Since all these reports are comparable in weight, it is difficult to prefer one above another. Hence the hadith is termed as mudtarib.
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This excerpt was posted with the quote from Ibn Kathir’s tafsir because I heard a narration about one particular ayah from surat Hud making the hair of the prophet sallahAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam gray and, when I was searching to find a primary source for the narration, I came across this reference as well. I thought it was a good lesson to remind myself about the importance of being careful and being patient when it comes to knowledge of Islaam. SubhaanAllah! If we reflect upon the importance of being careful and patient, it appears that there is yet another blessing/mercy in it, for how quickly can we apply all that we may learn?
And from “Knowledge Mandates Action” (or Iqtidaa-ul-’ilm al-’Amal) by Imaam Abu Bakr Ahmad bin ‘Alee Al-Baghdaadee:
“There was a young boy that would often go to the Mother of the Believers, ‘Aa’ishah (radiyaAllahu ‘anha), and ask her questions, so she would narrate hadeeth to him. One day, he went to her and asked her some questions, so she said: ‘My dear child! Did you act upon what you heard from me (previously)?’ He said: ‘No, by Allaah, dear mother.’ So she said: ‘My dear child! Then why do you seek to gain more of Allaah’s proofs against us and you?’”
And Allah knows best.
