CLASSIFICATION OF ADTH

BASED ON THE
NUMBER OF TRANSMITTERS

ADTH

Mutawtir

Laf

Ma'naw

'Amal

Mashhr

Iil

'Azz

Ghayr
Iil

Gharb

Mulaq

Nisb

MUTAWTIR ()
Literally = ( )recurrence, repetition, succession ~
continuously recurrent
Definition =

What is narrated by an indefinite number of people

in such away that precludes the possibility of their
agreement to a lie upon the Prophet , narrating
from those before them, from the beginning to the
end

MUTAWTIR ()
No precise definition for a large number of
transmitters, although various minimum number has
been suggested (4,5,7,10,12,40,70 etc.)
It is termed recurrent adth because of the
involvement of many people in its chain of
transmitters
Example

Whoever tells a lie against me, then let him occupy

his seat in hell-fire.

MUTAWTIR ()
Criteria:
1. Narrated by a large number of different
transmitters
2. Multiplicity of narrators should remain large
throughout each level of the chain of transmission
3. The possibility of the transmitters perpetuating a lie
is impossible
4. Narration based on sense perception, such as
hearing from the Prophet or witnessing his
actions

MUTAWTIR ()
Position:
1. Unanimously, it prescribes certainty and definite
knowledge
2. Authenticity is confirmed
3. Necessary to believe in its authenticity such as the
authenticity of the Qur'n. Hence, denial leads to
kufr (disbelief).
~ legal authority = Qur'n

MUTAWTIR ()

Mutawtir

Laf

Ma'naw

'Amal

MUTAWTIR LAF ()
Verbal recurrent
That which has been reported with the same
wordings in all different chains of transmission,
to the extent that the text of the adth is literally
identical
Example:

One who lies about me deliberately, must prepare

himself for a seat in the hell-fire

MUTAWTIR MA'NAW ()
Conceptual Recurrent
That which has been reported with different
wordings but all lead to an identical meaning
Example:
adth on the manners of performing alt such
as the raising of hands during certain intervals

MUTAWTIR 'AMAL ()
Practical Recurrent
That which is necessarily known from the
religion and is continuously practiced without
disagreements by Muslims from one generation
to the other with the belief that the Prophet
did it or ordered it etc.
Example:
the five daily prayers, rites of ajj, fasting etc.

MUTAWTIR ()
Compilations:
1. al-Faw'id al-Mutakthirah f al-Akhbr alMutawtirah by al-Suy
2. Nam al-Mutanthirah min al-adth al-Mutawtir
by al-Kattn
3. Nam al-La'l al-Mutanthirah f al-Adth alMutawtirah by al-Zabd

D ()
Literally = the plural of wid (), which means
solitary or one
Definition =

That which does not meet the conditions/criteria of
Mutawtir
adth which is narrated by people whose number
do not reach that of mutawtir at some stage of
the chain of transmitters

D ()
Position:
1. Indicates probability and possibility ( )rather
than certainty ()
2. Could be authentic (a), agreeable (asan),
weak (a'f) or forgery (maw')
3. When fulfilling all its requirements, acting upon it
becomes obligatory, not necessary to believe in its
authenticity, therefore, its denial does not lead to
disbelief (kufr)

D ()
d

Mashhr

Iil

Ghayr
Iil

'Azz

Gharb

Mulaq

Nisb

D ( )Gharb ()
Literally = ( )far away from ones native land and
relatives, strangeness, peculiarity, exile
Definition =

That which is transmitted by one transmitter at any
level/stage of the chain of transmitters
Termed strange due to its isolation or being solitary at
any level/stage of the sanad

D ( )Gharb ()
Identification:
1. a single transmitter is found transmitting it from a
well known Imm
2. solely transmitted by a group of transmitters from a
certain region
3. transmitters from one locality transmitting from
transmitters of another locality

D ( )Gharb ()
Classification:

Gharb

Mulaq

Nisb

D ( )Gharb Mulaq ()

Definition =

That which its strangeness is at the beginning of
the chain of transmitters, and the beginning is the
level of the companion
Eventhough throughout other levels of the chain of
transmitters, the number of transmitters is large

D ( )Gharb Nisb ()

Definition =

1.
2.
3.
4.

That which its strangeness occur in any level/stage

of the chain of transmission
Ibn ajr divided it into:
transmitted solely by a reliable transmitter
transmitted solely by a particular transmitter from another
particular transmitter
transmitted solely by a group from a particular region
transmitted solely by a group from a particular region from
another group

D ( )Gharb ()
Compilations:
1. Ghar'ib Mlik by al-Druqun
2. Al-Afrd wa al-Ghar'ib by al-Druqun
3. Al-Sunan allat tafarrada bi kull Sunnatin minhu
Ahl al-Baldah by Ab Dwud
4. Musnad al-Bazzr
5. Al-Mu'jam al-Awsa by al-abarn

D (' )Azz ()
Literally =
1. ( ) very rare/seldom to the extent that it is
assumed to be in non-existence
2. ( )strong, distinguished, solid

Definition =

That which its transmitters are not less than two in
every level/stage, although in some levels/stages it
might be more

D (' )Azz ()

It is termed azz due to its infrequent narration or it

being strengthened by other transmitters
A narration agreed by two transmitters throughout
the who chain of transmitters or at some
levels/stages there should be no fewer than two
transmitters

D ( )
Mashhr Iil ()
Literally = well-known or wide-spread
Definition =


That which its transmitters are not less than three in
each level of transmission, and if they are more than
three at one level or all levels, these additional
number of transmitters do not reach the level of
mutawtir

Mashhr Ghayr Iil / Lughaw

(/)

Literally = well-known or wide-spread

Definition =

That which is often spoke about (wide spread)
without any definitive conditions
Popular adth

D ( )Mashhr ()
Position:
It could be authentic (a), agreeable (asan),
weak (a'f) or forgery (maw')
Its popularity does not necessitate its authenticity
Compilations:
1. Al-Maqid al-asanah f Bayn Kathr min alAdth al-Mushtahirah 'al al-Alsinah by alSakhw
2. Kash al-Khaf' wa Muzl al-Ilbs 'amm Istahara
min Adth 'al al-Alsinah al-Ns by Ism'l ibn
Muammad al-Dimashq