The Art Asma al-Rijal: An Analytical Study

فن اسمأ الرجال: ایک تجزیاتی مطالعہ

Abstract

Asmaa.ur. rijaal is the study of art of determining the authenticity of those persons reporting the traditions, biographical literature of Hadith narrators. It was a specific subject to know the names and biographies of narrators of Hadiths in Islam. Before discussing the knowledge of Asmaa.ur.rijjal, it seems appropriate to discuss what Authority is. Authority is the study of knowing the connection of initial narrators and reporters of the tradition of Hadith to Holy Prophet (PBUH). Who are narrators, what their level of knowledge is and what their mental status etc. is. It is important to note here when was started the collection of biographies of narrators of Hadiths ? What was the criterion to reject or accept the facts? All these questions are the subject of Asmaa.ur. rijjal. The rules and regulations to judge the credibility of a narrator of hadith are included in the study of knowledge of Jarha and Tadeel. Till the period of Followers of dear prophet (PBUH) it was not necessary to write down the sayings of holy prophet because the memory of the followers of holy prophet was so brilliant. But with the passage of time it seemed that some exaggeration was expected in the Sayings of holy prophet and people began to mold the holy words of holy prophet (PBUH) for their own credit. Then this study evolved and developed and became a proper branch of knowledge. Though, initially it was a very difficult task to collect Hadiths and then judging the credibility of their narrators. Then some strict rules were set to study the name and biographies of narrators of Hadiths.