Dating the Traditions of Prophet’s First Revelation in Sunni Collections

Abstract

A number of traditiins with different matns and Isnads are found in Sunni collections concerning prophet’s first revelation. In this article, using different methods of dating hadiths (first appearance in the sources, content analysis, Isnad analysis Isnad-matn analysis) the historical and geographical origins and the gradual evolution of these traditions are explained. Furthermore, the findings of the research indicate that some of these narrations, which for various reasons are considered fabricated, were first forged by ʿĀʾisha or ʿUbayd Ibn ʿUmayr and Abū Maysara Hamidānī, in two very different versions before the years 58, 63 and 68 AH, in line with the policies of the Umayyads and Zubayrids and spread in Medina, Kufa and Mecca. Abū Maysara's version did not become very popular due to his lack of fame, the broken chain of transmission and the insignificance of it’s function. But ʿĀʾisha and ʿUbayd's versions, which have a single origin, were widely spread by Zuhri in Syria, Basra, and Medina. Considering the relationship of ʿĀʾisha and ʿUbayd with Zubayrids and Zuhri with the Umayyads, it can be said that the most important purpose of these traditions at first was forging virtue for Zubayrids And in the stage of spread by Zuhri,by making changes in the text are representing an ungraceful image of the prophet.

Keywords

• traditions about prophet’s first revelation
• dating traditions
• the earliest sources
• common link
• isnad-matn analysis