An Inquiry into the Mujaddid (Renewer of the Religion)

Question

Question: Source of grace and kindness, respected Rector of Madrasa Mazahir al-‘Ulum, may his beneficence continue! Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings! (1) As for the hadith of the mujaddid, which is found only in Abu Dawud — have the scholars of hadith accepted it as sound (sahih) in its wording? (2) Is it necessary for the mujaddid to appear at the beginning or the end of every century? Can a mujaddid not appear in the middle of a century? (3)

Answer

(1) The hadith: [ar]إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَبْعَثُ لِهَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ عَلَى رَأْسِ كُلِّ مِائَةِ سَنَةٍ مَنْ يُجَدِّدُ لَهَا دِينَهَا[/ar] “Indeed, Allah, Most High, raises up for this Umma, at the head of every hundred years, one who renews for it its religion” — al-Hakim ﵀ authenticated it in “al-Mustadrak”, and al-Bayhaqi ﵀ in “al-Madkhal”.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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