How are men known?
From Sulaymaan ibn Mus-hir: from Kharashah ibn al-Hurr, who said:
"A man bore witness in the presence of `Umar ibn al-Khattaab -radiyallaahu `anhu, so `Umar said to him: “I do not know you, and it does not harm you that I do not know you, but bring someone who does know you.”
So a man said: ‘I know him, O Chief of the Believers.’
He said: “What do you know of him.”
He said: ‘Uprightness.’
He said: “Is he your closest neighbour; so that you know about his night and his day, and his comings and goings?”
He said: ‘No.’
He said: “So have you had (monetary) dealings with him involving dirhams and deenars, which will indicate his piety?”
He said: ‘No.’
He said: “Then has he been your companion upon a journey which could indicate to you his good character?”
He said: ‘No.’
He said: “Then you do not know him.”
Then he said to the man: “Bring me someone who knows you.”[1]
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[1] Reported by al-Bayhaqee and others, and it was declared to be ‘saheeh’ (authentic) by Ibnus-Sakan, and our Shaikh [i.e.Muhammad Naasiruddeen al-Albaanee] agreed; and refer to’al-Irwaa·’ (no.2637).
[From ‘al-Fawaa·idul-Hisaan’(2/18-19) of Husayn al-`Awaayishah].
Translated by Dawood Burbank
