What Is The Status Of Narrator Minhal Ibn Amr? Did Scholars Really Rejected His Narrations?

Question

Salam Brothers,

I would like to know what is the status of narrator Minhal Ibn Amr. I have read somewhere that he was a Shia, but still many Sunni scholars accepted his narrations. However, is it true that some scholars like Imam Razi, Yaha bin Ma'in, Shu'bah, etc have rejected his narrations? However here is a Hadith Website that cites narrations from Minhal Ibn Amr:-

https://hadithanswers.com/how-many-days-did-ibrahim-alayhis-salam-spend-in-the-fire/

The Main Question Is: is Minhal Ibn Amr reliable narrator, according to Yahya bin Ma'in, Imam Razi, Shu'bah, etc?

Thanks.

Answer 1

The people differed on him, although the majority seem to have considered him Thiqah.

They include Yahya ibn Ma'in, an-Nasa'i, Al-'Ajli etc. Bukhari, Ibn Hibban and Ibn Khuzaimah have narrated from him in their Sahihs (where they only include authentic narrations).

His student Shu'bah has narrated from him, and it is said that he only narrated from those he considered thiqah. However it is also claimed that he stopped narrating from him when he heard the sound of music and singing from his house. But other scholars have noted that this is not a valid objection since it is based on negative speculation, he did not ask him about it so it is possible that there was some explanation or that Minhal was unaware of it happening.

As mentioned above, he is among the narrators relied upon by Bukhari. You can find his mention and details in Fath al-Bari's preface under the section: أسماء من طعن فيه من رجال البخاري, which is a section on criticized narrators.

Among the ahadith that Bukhari narrated from him in his Sahih includes:

حدثنا عثمان بن أبي شيبة، حدثنا جرير، عن منصور، عن المنهال، عن سعيد بن جبير، عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما، قال: كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يعوذ الحسن والحسين، ويقول: إن أباكما كان يعوذ بها إسماعيل وإسحاق: أعوذ بكلمات الله التامة، من كل شيطان وهامة، ومن كل عين لامة

... from Minhal from Saeed ibn Jubayr from Ibn Abbas that he said:

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to seek Refuge with Allah for Al-Hasan and Al-Husain and say: "Your forefather (i.e. Abraham) used to seek Refuge with Allah for Ishmael and Isaac by reciting the following: 'O Allah! I seek Refuge with Your Perfect Words from every devil and from poisonous pests and from every evil, harmful, envious eye.'

^{— Bukhari}

Answer 2

Manhal Ibn Amr was from the tribe of Bani Assad and the people of Kufa and narrated from Imam Sajjad (as). He is considered one of the companions of Imam Sajjad (as) and Imam Baqir (as). Source: [Article revision(Tanghil Al Maghal), vol. 3, p. 251.] Manhal was one of the followers of Ahl al-Bayt (as) who lived in Sham. On the days when the captives of the Ahl al-Bayt were in the ruins of Sham, one day Imam Sajjad (as) came out and met him, and talks took place between the two, and the Imam spoke of the oppression of the Ahl al-Bayt and the severe period of captivity.

Source: [Murder of Hussein (Maqtal Al Hussain), Muqarram, p. 462, Al-Futuh, Ibn A'tham, vol. 5, p. 155.]

It is also narrated from him that while bringing the holy head of Imam Hussein (as) to Damascus, a man recited the verse of the Companions of the Cave. A voice came from Motahar: "Killing me and turning my head is more amazing than the story of the companions of the cave." Source: [Proof of guidance( Esbat Al Hoda), vol. 5, p. 193.] He also met with Imam Zin al-Abedin on his return trip from Mecca. The Imam asked him about the status of the attack (the killer of Ali Asghar), then cursed the accursed one. Manhal was arrested when he arrived in Kufa. At Mukhtar's behest, his arms and legs were amputated, then thrown into the fire. Manhal recounted the story of his meeting with the Imam and his curse on the attack. Mukhtar was happy that the Imam's prayer was answered by him.

Source: [Baharalanvar, vol. 45, p. 332, Ma'aref wa Ma'arif, vol. 5, p. 2143.]