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Fatwa CenterThe Conditions for Accepting a Mursal Hadith According to Imam As-Shafi‘i
Question
Assalamu Alaikum Sheikhs, I heard that Imam Shafiee would not accept a mursal narration except if one of 4 conditions were met. My question is regarding one of the conditions he stated which is that if a mursal Hadeeth is supported by the view of Majority of scholars it is accepted. Is this the correct view ? and if it is correct then what is the wisdom behind this Jazakallah Khair
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad (ﷺ) is His Slave and Messenger.
Imam As-Shafi‘i 
explicitly stated in his book Ar-Risaalah the conditions for accepting a mursal hadith and strengthening it.
Among the conditions he mentioned is that the text of the mursal hadith should be supported by evidence indicating that it has a basis or foundation.
From the supporting factors is that the majority of the scholars act in accordance with the implication of the mursal hadith.
The reason for this — or the wisdom behind it, as you expressed in your question — is that the agreement of the majority of the scholars upon acting in accordance with a mursal hadith usually indicates that the hadith has a basis, and that they relied in their view upon that underlying foundation, as explained by Ibn Rajab .
It is recommended that you refer to the discussion of Ibn Rajab in Sharh ‘Ilal At-Tirmidhi, for he is among the best who have explained the conditions set by Imam As-Shafi‘i regarding the acceptance of the mursal hadith.
Allah Knows best
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