A Critical Analysis of Al-Mudtarib

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive study of the concept of "Mudtarib" in hadith studies, focusing on its theoretical foundations and practical implications. The term "Mudtarib" refers to a hadith that exhibits significant inconsistencies in its transmission, where different narrators report conflicting versions of the same narration without one version being definitively more reliable than the others. The study begins by exploring the linguistic and technical definitions of "Mudtarib", followed by a detailed examination of the conditions under which a hadith is classified as such. Key distinctions between "Mudtarib" and other forms of discrepancy, such as "Ikhtilaf", are discussed to clarify the specific criteria that render a hadith "Mudtarib". The paper also addresses the scholarly rulings on "Mudtarib" hadiths, emphasising their impact on the reliability and acceptance of these narrations in Islamic jurisprudence. In the practical section, the paper provides illustrative examples of "Mudtarib" hadiths, analysing their chains of narration and the variations that lead to their classification as "Mudtarib". Through these examples, the study demonstrates how scholars approach the evaluation of these narrations and the methodologies used to determine their authenticity or weakness. The paper concludes by highlighting the contributions of classical Islamic scholars to the study of "Mudtarib" hadiths, with references to key works in the field. This research aims to enhance the understanding of "Mudtarib" in hadith studies and to provide a valuable resource for scholars and students engaged in the critical analysis of Islamic traditions.