How sound is the story of the drunkard's repentance, narrated by Ibn Qudamah in the book "Al-Tawwabin" from Dhul-Nun al-Misri, which includes a scorpion saving him from a snake?
This story is not considered a or an Athar (narration from a Companion), but rather a tale seen by Dhul-Nun al-Misri. Ibn Qudamah mentioned it in "Al-Tawwabin" (The Repentant Ones) and Ibn al-Jawzi in "Uyun al-Hikayat" (Sources of Anecdotes). Its first chain of narration is transmitted from renowned Sufi imams known for their good religiosity, who are not among those who transmit Hadith. The second chain of narration is continuous with unknown narrators. The chains of narration for such tales are not strictly scrutinized as long as their meaning does not contradict Islamic law, and they can be used for admonition. As for the young man's seclusion from cities after the incident, it is contrary to the prophetic guidance and approaches the forbidden monasticism, unless corruption has overwhelmed the country. Ibn Qudamah's book "Al-Tawwabin" contains narrations whose chains of narration are not sound, and Al-Sakhawi warned against this. Ibn Taymiyyah pointed out that books of ascetics' accounts contain weak or false Hadiths and tales, but they vary in this regard.
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