(2) مرتبة "صدوق" وحكم أهلها في رواية الحديث

Abstract

The scrutiny of hadith led to the classification of its narrators on the basis of varying degree of religiosity and memory of each. Abdurrahman ibn abi Hatim al-Razi was the first to describe elaborately these degrees of narrators of hadith through the detailed classification of disparaging and authenticating remarks used to describe their qualities. Although most of the remarks and ranks are clear in their meaning, but their also exist ambiguities. One such ambiguity is, the rank of  صدوق)) 'veracious' and its verdict  (النظر) 'consideration', both of which bear more than one interpretation, which leads to indecision while dealing with those who have been authenticated by the word صدوق)) 'veracious' and its synonyms.  This article thoroughly analyzes the available interpretations of both, verifies their authenticity in the light of usage of early hadith critics, and explores the interpretation most suited to the way the early hadith critics used them. The study led to the following two conclusions: First: the rank of صدوق)) 'veracious' is specified for those remarks that convey the meaning of the domination of right over the wrong in both the character and memory of the narrator. Second: Anyone at the rank of صدوق)) 'veracious' is qualified for the acceptance of those narrations which he alone narrates after a careful examination where there is no evidence of mistake. So, if he narrates something alone, it will be carefully examined, and if the evidence of mistake is found, the narration will be rejected, otherwise it should be accepted.