Guillaume--Life of Muhammad.pdf - Radical Truth

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The Life of Muham11Uld
stories, since but a few attacks on a man's good faith, explicit or not, are
enough to destroy the reputation of one whose former circumstances are
not known when an impartial critic has not done him justice.
In his book about trustworthy narrators Abu I:Iiitim said that the two
men who attacked U. were Hisham and Miilik: The former denied that
he had heard traditions from Fiitima. But what he said does not impugn
men's veracity in hadith, for 'followers' like a1-Aswad and 'Alqama heard
'A'isha's voice without seeing her. Similarly 1.1. used to hear Fiitima
when the curtain was let down between them. As for Miilik, what he said
was momentary and afterwards he did him justiee. Nobody in the Hijaz
knew more about genealogies and wars than 1.1., and he used to say that
Malik was a freed slave of Dhu A~bal,1 while Miilik alleged that he was a
full member of the tribe so that there was bad feeling between them; and
when Malik compiled the Muwatta' 1.1. said, 'Bring it to me for I am its
veterinary surgeon.' Hearing of this Miilik said: 'He is an antichrist; h~
reports traditions on the authority of the Jews.' The quarrel lasted untd
1.1. decided to go to Iraq. Then they were reconciled and Malik gave him
50 dinars and half his date crop as a p.arting gift. Miilik di~ ?ot intend t,o
bring him into ill favour as a trad'honlst: all that he dlshked was hiS
following the Jews who had become Muslims and learning the story of
Khaybar and Qurana and al-Na