"إعلال الحديث الغريب بنَدرة الإسناد Al-HadÊth al-GharÊb: An Analysis of Its Weak Chains "

Abstract

×adÊth (Prophetic Tradition) is classified by experts into a number of categories from various angles. The very basis of this classification is the chain (sanad or isnÉd). One such category of ×adÊth is GharÊb (strange). It may be defined as ÍadÊth reported by only one reporter at almost all the stages of reporting including the period of the Prophet’s (s.a.w.) Companions. Like other categories of solitary ÍadÊth (ÉÍÉd), gharÊb may and may not be reliable, depending on the veracity of the chain of narrators. One reason that may render gharÊb ÍadÊth as unreliable is the unknown sources of narrators as available in the chain of narrators. This article attempts to discuss some infamous or unknown chains of reporters in reporting gharÊb ÍadÊth.