The Denotation of the Terms “Not Well-Known by Transmission” and “Not Famous by Transmission” According to Imam al-Bazzār (d. 292 AH) in His Musnad: An Applied Study

Abstract

Abstract:

This study examines the terms “not well-known by transmission” and “not famous by transmission” as used by Imam al-Bazzār in his Musnad. It collects the narrators to whom he applied these descriptions and analyzes them through the lens of jarḥ (criticism) and taʿdīl (accreditation), in order to understand the meaning of these two terms in his usage. The study adopts an inductive, analytical, descriptive, and inferential methodology. The structure includes an introduction, a preamble, three main sections, and a conclusion.

The motivation for this research arose from the absence of dedicated studies that highlight and analyze these two terms in general—and particularly in the works of Imam al-Bazzār—despite their frequent occurrence. Among the findings: the earliest instance of these terms in use was found with Imam al-Bazzār (may Allah have mercy on him), and later they were widely employed by al-ʿUqaylī (d. 322 AH) in his work al-Ḍuʿafāʾ. Imam al-Bazzār used these terms to describe 14 narrators in his Musnad. These terms indicate that a narrator is neither famous nor widely recognized for transmitting reports; however, they do not constitute a ruling of jahālah (unknown status) as defined by later terminology, nor do they amount to a judgment of weakness.

The conclusion elaborates further findings, and the study encourages students specializing in ḥadīth sciences to analyze such terms used by critics and compare them with other scholars’ views to determine the reliability of narrators. The study is supplemented by a bibliography of sources and references.