Definition
Most scholars classify mursal as a type of ḍa‘īf because the omitted Companion is unknown — though the Companions themselves are all upright, the question is whether a Tābi‘ī might have omitted another Tābi‘ī.
Pronunciation: MUR-sal
Etymology & Root
From ر-س-ل (r-s-l), meaning 'to send loose, to release.' The narration is 'released' without naming the immediate intermediary.
Scholarly Notes
Imām Mālik and Abū Ḥanīfah accepted mursal under conditions; Imām ash-Shāfi‘ī accepted it only with supporting evidence; Imām Aḥmad and the muḥaddithīn generally rejected it as evidence on its own.
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Related Terms
More from Hadith Terminology
Agreed upon by Bukhārī and Muslim.
Weak — does not meet the conditions of authenticity.
Attributed to a Tābi‘ī only.
Authentic — the highest grade of hadith.
Fabricated — falsely attributed to the Prophet ﷺ.
A narrator of hadith.