The Multiplicity of Narrators’ Attributes through Their Names Kunyas and Epithets and its Effect on Hadith Criticism 10.35781/1637-000-158-003

Abstract

Abstract This research aims to highlight the importance of identifying narrators through their various identifiers—such as names, kunyahs (agnomens), titles, and lineages—and to demonstrate the impact of this knowledge in distinguishing between narrators. Such identification contributes to achieving accuracy in judging hadith in terms of acceptance or rejection and helps safeguard the Prophetic Sunnah from error and confusion . The study examines the significance of this field withinthe sciences of hadith and sheds light on the efforts of hadith scholars in the names of narrators and distinguishing between those with similar names. It also presents the different forms of multiple appellations used for narrators, such as mentioning the proper name, kunyah, lineage, or altering the designation intentionally for purposes such as concealment or stylistic variation . Furthermore, the research discusses the reasons behind this multiplicity, including practices such as tadlīs (concealment in transmission), frequent narration from a particular teacher, the narrator’s young age, the presence of multiple students narrating from the same teacher, or the intention to train students in identifying narrators . The study adopts an inductive and analytical methodology by collecting examples of multiple appellations from hadith literature, analyzing their causes and motivations, and linking them to the critical judgments of hadith scholars, supported by practical examples where the narrator’s status became unclear due to changes in their designation The research concludes that the multiplicity of narrators’ appellations is a subtle and intricate field requiring careful attention. In many cases, it originates from tadlīs, though it may also occur among trustworthy narrators and leading scholars for various reasons. Mastery of this field helps prevent confusion between narrators and protects hadith scholarship from mistakenly rejecting authentic reports or accepting weak ones due to ambiguity in identifying the narrator . .