Imam Darqutni and His Approach towards Defects Occurred in the Prophetic Traditions

• Main Authors: Sajid Mahmood, Shams-ud-Din
• Format: Article
• Language: Arabic
• Published: Hazara University 2012-06-01
• Series: Hazara Islamicus
• Online Access: http://hazaraislamicus.hu.edu.pk/public/uploads/2012/Issue_1/04-imam-darul-qutni-wa-manhajuhu.pdf

Qur’an and Prophetic traditions (Hadith) are the fundamental sources of Islam. Muslims believe that Qur’an is the word of God (Allah). Hadith (Prophet’s sayings, actions and silent approval and disapproval for something) likewise is based on divine revelation. Qur’an affirms also this view: (God says) Your Companion (Muhammad) has neither gone astray nor has erred. Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. It is only a Revelation revealed. (Al-Qur’an 53:2-4) Allah Almighty Himself took the responsibility to guard His word (the Qur’an): (He says:) Verily, We, it is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur’an) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption). (Al-Qur’an 15:9) On the contrary, the responsibility to guard the Prophetic traditions (Hadith) was put on the shoulders of Muslim Ummah. The scholars of Islam (ulamas) tried their utmost to collect and save the Prophetic traditions and guard it from any alteration. To achieve this purpose, they introduced different hadith sciences to distinguish between the true and the fabricated hadith. If a hadith (tradition) did not meet the criterion set by the Ulamas for an acceptable hadith (tradition) was calledMardood. A tradition may be considered mardood for different reasons or defects, like defect in the narrator (Raavi) or in narration, etc. As a result, different types of Mardood hadith emerged. One of these types is known as Muallal. Different scholars have discussed hadith muallal in detail in their works. While this paper is aimed at Imam alDara-Qutni’s approach towards hadith muallal.