Weak Hadith is Sahih if fulfilled
If the prophecy of a hadith which is considered weak or fabricated is fulfilled, it is Sahih regardless of its narrators.
Introduction
Ahmadi Muslims hold the belief that if a hadith which is considered weak and fabricated has a prophecy, and that prophecy is fulfilled, then that hadith is Sahih regardless of the criticism done by scholars. This belief is supported by the Holy Quran, Sahih Ahadith, and other scholars. This article shows the truthfulness of this belief and refutes non-Ahmadis who object to it.
Holy Quran
The Holy Quran clearly states that true knowledge of the unseen (prophecies etc.) is only revealed to Allah’s Messenger,
عٰلِمُ الۡغَیۡبِ فَلَا یُظۡہِرُ عَلٰی غَیۡبِہٖۤ اَحَدًا اِلَّا مَنِ ارۡتَضٰی مِنۡ رَّسُوۡلٍ
He is the Knower of the unseen; He does not grant anyone ascendency over His domain of the unseen. Except him whom He chooses as His Messenger
[Holy Quran 72:27-28]
If the prophecy of a weak hadith is fulfilled, it proves that the hadith held true knowledge of the unseen. Allah Almighty only reveals that knowledge to His Messenger. Allah Almighty doesn’t reveal that knowledge to fabricating narrators. Therefore, a weak hadith with a fulfilled prophecy proves that the hadith held true words of Hazrat Muhammad (saw) – the hadith is automatically authenticated.
Rejecting the criteria of Ahmadi Muslims is rejecting the criteria of the Holy Quran.
Sahih Ahadith
عن ابن عباس، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ليس الخبر كالمعاين
On the authority of Ibn Abbas (ra) who said, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Obtaining news (al-khabr) is not like seeing.
[Musnad Ahmad 1842]
This hadith is very famous among all Muslims. It means that seeing something first-hand is above obtaining news about that matter. This golden criterion can be applied to Ahadith.
Meaning: Seeing the prophecy of a hadith being visibly fulfilled is above any criticism based on the jarh of its narrators (obtaining news). You have seen yourself that the hadith is fulfilled – that is above any news or criticism obtained on its narrators! A fulfilled hadith is automatically authentic.
Masih Maud (as)
Hazrat Masih Maud (as), the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) also beautifully explained this.
On the topic of the Eclipse hadith in Sunan Dar Qutni:
* Remember that for any hadith, there is no testimony more certain and indisputable (qati’), than – if that hadith is based upon a prophecy – that the prophecy is clearly fulfilled. Because all other methods of verifying the authenticity of a hadith are suspect, however it is the shining jewel of a hadith that the light of its truth is manifested through the fulfillment of its prophecy. That is because the fulfilment of the prophecy in a hadith raises it from the rank of uncertainty to the high rank of certainty, and no hadith can match the status and high rank of certainty that this hadith possesses – be it from Bukhari or Muslim. And suppose, even if such hadith, in its sequence of narrators (silsila isnad) has a thousand fabricators and liars – no harm is done to the health of its authenticity and its rank of certainty, since its authenticity is revealed through visible, tangible, and evident means. And, it is a matter of pride for such a book, and a proof of its authenticity is established, which possesses such a hadith. Therefore, it is the pride of Dar Qutni, whos hadith was fulfilled with such clarity.
[Tohfa Golarrviya | Ruhani Khazain Vol 17. p. 140 Computerized | footnote]