كتاب the top of thinking in the classification of hadith

Praise to Allah who never ceases being know, able. May Allah bless our liegelord Muhammad, whom He sent to humankind as a bearer of good tidings and a warner, and upon his folk, Companions, and many salutations. To commence: The books of the nomenclature of ḥadith specialists are many and were expanded and condensed. One of my brothers asked that I summarize for them what is important. I responded to his request seeking to be counted among those who trod the [scholarly] paths. So I say: The paths of a report (khabar) are either: 1. without specific number 2. more than two paths 3. two paths 4. one path • The first is the mass–transmitted report (mutawātir), and conveys sure knowledge (‘ilm yaqīnī) when its conditions are met. • The second is the well–known report (mashhūr) and it is also called the well–circulated report (mustafīḥ) according to one opinion. • The third is the rare report (‘azīz). It is not the [minimal] condition for authenticity, contrary to whoever claimed it. • The fourth is the uncommon report (gharīb). All of them except for the first are solitary reports (āḥād). They [=these reports] encompass the accepted and the rejected since using them as evidence hinges on investigating the status of the reporters, contrary to the first category. Yet they might Book author : Ibn Hajar AlAsqalani
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من السيرة النبوية المشرفة السنة النبوية الشريفة - مكتبة كتب إسلامية.