The Twelfth Evidence

Another reason for its revelation: Two men had a dispute, and one of them said, "Let us take the matter to the Prophet ﷺ," while the other said, "Let us refer it to Ka’b ibn Al-Ashraf." They then went to ’Umar, and one of them explained the situation. ’Umar asked the one who refused the judgment of the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ, "Is this true?" He replied, "Yes." Upon hearing this, ’Umar struck him with his sword and killed him. ['Asbāb An-Nuzūl' of Al-Wāḥidi, p. 119] The response: This report is narrated through Al-Kalbi, from Abū Ṣāliḥ Bā-Dhām, from Ibn ’Abbās, but the narration contains four defects: 1. Muḥammad ibn As-Sā'ib Al-Kalbi is Matrūk (a rejected narrator). Yaḥyā ibn Sa’eed and Ibn Mahdi, may Allāh have mercy on them both, abandoned him. Abū Ḥātim, may Allāh have mercy on him, even said: «الناس مجمعون على ترك حديثه» "The scholars are unanimously agreed on rejecting his narrations" [see 'Tahdhīb Al-Kamāl' (6/318-319/5835)]. 2. Bā-Dhām is a weak narrator. Both Al-Bukhāri and Ibn Ḥajar, may Allāh have mercy on them, demmed him weak. Ibn ’Adiy, may Allāh have mercy on him, also said: «ولم أعلم أحداً من المتقدمين رَضِيَه» "I am unaware of any early scholar who approved of him" [see 'Mīzān Al-I’tidāl' (3/123), Taqrīb At-Tahdhīb' p. 163, 'Al-Kāmil (2/258/300)]. 3. There is a disconnection between Bā-Dhām and Ibn ’Abbās, may Allāh be pleased with him. Ibn Ḥibbān, may Allāh have mercy on him, said: «يُحدّث عن ابن عباس؛ ولم يسمع منه» "He narrates from Ibn ’Abbās, but did not hear from him" [see 'Tahdhīb At-Tahdhīb (1/211)]. 4. The narrations of Al-Kalbi from Bā-Dhām are of no value. Yaḥyā Ma’een, may Allāh have mercy on him, said: «إذا روى عنه الكلبي فليس بشيء» "If Al-Kalbi narrates from Bā-Dhām, it is of no value" [see 'Tahdhīb Al-Kamāl' (3/625)].