Foremost & Primary Books of the Science of ‘ilal al ḥadīth: An Introductory and Methodological Study

Abstract

Science of ‘ilal (hidden defects) has a great influence on ḥadīth and its sciences regarding acceptance or rejection of any ḥadīth as well as declaring it impractical. Since the Compilation of ḥadīth and establishing its sciences & principles, Moḥadithīns have paid a huge attention on this science especially to prevent aḥādīth from hidden defects and possible miscommunications of narrators . As it is reality, from the beginning, Moḥadithīns wrote a large amount of books containing of the symbolic principles, examples, precedents from defected aḥādīth as well as rules to find these hidden defects (‘ilal) and their possible places in chain of ḥadīth and text.  This paper encompassed a methodological study of selected famous and basic sources of the said science and its principles, in which, author has presented methodology of foremost books of this science.  The analytical method has been used in this study to examine these books and their importance & significance . The author finds that these books had a great impact on all other books written in the same domain or subject due to their vast canvas and full of all principles and scientifically discussions. Mostly books written after these books, rely on them un-doubtfully. In the certain time, these books may be accessed for multi-purposes i.e. to find defected aḥādīth, to assess status of specific ḥadīth, to evaluate a narrator’s position with subject to his authenticity or rejection.