* The Detailed Criticism is Given Precedence Over the General Certification

The Detailed Criticism is Given Precedence Over the General Praise or the General Statement of Certification

Question: Is Al-Jarh wa At-Ta'deel (i.e. الجرح و التعديل , the criticism and refutation or praise and certification of people) from those affairs in which there is khilaaf at-tanawwu' (i.e. خلاف التنوّع , an affair in which differing is permissible due to the possibility of different statements regarding it being correct).

Answer: If this is between the major imaams (i.e. scholars), for instance (sheikh) so and so certifies (someone) and (sheikh) such and such criticizes him and his narration, than the scholars have placed regulations for this also. If the jarh (i.e. criticism) is detailed than the detailed criticism is given precedence over a certification. Because the origin of the Muslim is that he is to be yuwaththaq (i.e. deemed to be trustworthy and reliable). So if there comes to us a criticism that is detailed and not (only) general, then there is no doubt that it is to be given precedence over the general certification. In any case it should be referred back to the principles and regulations that the scholars have placed, as for you making ijtihaad (i.e. coming to your own conclusion in the matter), then no.

An answer from Sheikh Falaah Ismaael Mandakar http://www.mandakar.com/FatawaDetails.asp?ID=341