دفع الشبهات المثارة حول الوليد بن عقبة ودراسة مروياته (دراسة حديثية)

Dispelling Doubts Raised About Al-Walid bin Uqba and Studying His Narrations (A Hadith Study)

Abstract

This research addresses the claims made by some scholars and orientalists who questioned the integrity of the Companion al-Walīd ibn 'Uqbah (may Allah be pleased with him). It seeks to re-examine the reports and narratives used to cast doubt upon him, analyzing them through a rigorous scholarly lens away from both uncritical veneration and unfair accusations. The study aims to defend the status of the Companion and highlight his virtues, while applying the principles of hadith authentication in practice to distinguish between sound and weak historical accounts. The study focused on four main allegations: the interpretation of the verse of fisq in Sūrat al-Hujurāt, what is mentioned in Sūrat al-Sajdah, the claim of injustice toward his wives, and his governorship of Kūfa during the caliphate of 'Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him). After examining the reports in terms of both chain of transmission and content, it was found that most of them are unsound, and what is authentic can be interpreted in a reasonable manner. Furthermore, his appointment by 'Uthman was not favoritism but based on competence, and his withdrawal from the civil strife and dedication to worship are proofs of his piety and uprightness. The research employed a descriptive, historical, and critical inductive methodology, collecting the relevant reports and analyzing them in light of the rules established by the hadith scholars, while comparing the opinions of leading authorities. The findings conclude that the criticisms against al-Walīd ibn 'Uqbah do not stand on solid evidence, and that any mistakes he committed do not undermine his integrity, for the application of the hadd (penalty) serves as expiation. Moreover, his few transmitted narrations are due to his political responsibilities, and most of them are weak. Thus, the justice of the Companions is a firmly established principle, supported by textual evidence and scholarly consensus, and their status must not be undermined.