Q 1: What is the degree of authenticity of the following Hadith, “When you see a man regularly frequenting the Masjid (mosque), testify that he is a believer.” ?

A: This Hadith was narrated by Imam Ahmad, Al-Tirmidhy, Ibn Majah, Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Hibban, Al-Hakim and Al-Bayhaqy from Abu Sa‘id Al-Khudry from the Prophet (peace be upon him). Al-Tirmidhy declared that it is Hadith Hasan Gharib (a good Hadith that is strange to come from this chain of narration). Al-Hakim declared that it is an authentic Egyptian narration. Al-Dhahaby traced its reporters and found that they include Darraj ibn Sam‘an who frequently narrated Hadith Munkar (rejected Hadith reported by a weak narrator whose narration conflicts with an authentic Hadith). Mughaltay, in the book entitled Sharh Sunan Ibn Majah declared that this Hadith is Da‘if (weak). In his book Al-Jami‘ Al-Saghir, Al-Suyuty indicated that it is Sahih (authentic). Imam Ahmad stated that any Hadith reported by Darraj is Munkar. At one place (Part No. 4; Page No. 444)  Al-Daraqutny said: Darraj is ranked as Da‘if (weak), and at another: Darraj is Matruk (a narrator whose Hadith transmission was discarded due to unreliability). Furthermore, his narration from Abu Al-Haytham makes him of even weaker reliability than his narration from others.