Al-Khabar al-Wahid: Difference between revisions

'''Al-Khabar al-Wāḥīd''' (Arabic:{{ia|الخَبَرُ الواحِد}}) is, according to [[hadith sciences]], a narration of hadiths which is not regarded [[Mutawatir]] hadith which means the number of narrators in all generations of transition is not enough to accept the authenticity of Khabar.

Khabar Wahid is categorized into three groups in the aspect of the number of narrators: Mustafid, 'Aziz and Gharib.

Wahid report is a hadith narrated in a way that did not fulfill all the conditions necessary to be deemed [[Mutawatir Hadith]]. Then it is not proved authentic itself and must be proved by means of other evidences. As a result, if a hadith has all the conditions of [[Tawatur]] in several generations but one generation lacks them, is regarded as Khabar al-Wahid.

Authenticity of Wahid khabars are among the main topics of [[Usul al-fiqh]] (The Principles of Jurisprudence).

Wahid report is not certainly reported from the [[Infallibles]], then they are not handy on their own in religious matters. In issuing [[fatwa]] on [[Furu' al-Din]] (branches of religion), religious scholars mostly accept verses of the [[Qur'an|the Holy Qur'an]] and [[Mutawatir]] hadiths first and Wahid reports are acceptable only in exceptional situations.

Under special circumstances Wahid Khabars are proved to be narrated from the infallibles, which are useful for religious scholars and [[hadith]] narrators:

1) The hadith must have met several principles of [[Usul arba'mi'a]] (Four Hundred Principle Book).

2) If hadith is following one principle in different ways.

3) The hadith must be written by a member of [[Ashab al-Ijma']] (members of consensus) such as [[Zurara b. A'yan|Zurara]], [[Muhammad b. Muslim]], etc.

Most of hadiths and reports in [[:category:Narrative Books of Shi'a|narrative books]] are regarded Wahid Khabars.

 

 

 

In the aspect of the number of narrators, Wahid reports are categorized into three groups:

If Khabar is transmitted by at least three narrators in every generation, it is called mustafid. Lexically Istifada means abundant and large number. As a result, if an account is transmitted with more than three narrators it will be mostly similar to [[Mutawatir Hadith]]. Mustafid khabars are sometimes called "mashhur" (famous), although they have different meanings; as in mustafid report the account is transmitted with at least three narrators in every generation and mashhur reports are transmitted with at least three narrators in only some generations, not necessarily all of them. The [[hadith]] "Innama al-A'malu bi al-Niyyat"(Deeds are by intentions) is regarded mashhur not mustafid.

If Khabar is transmitted with at least two narrators in every generation, it is called 'Aziz. Lexically 'Aziz means few number (because such hadiths are few) or it means solid because such narrations have two evidences or chains of transmitters each supporting each other.

If Khabar is transmitted with only one narrator in every generation or in the first generation it is called gharib. It has different types such as:

 

Gharib in text: A Khabar which is transmitted with one narrator in the first generation and then it is narrated with a large number of narrators in the other generations; it is also called mashhur al-gharib. The hadith "Innama al-A'malu bi al-Niyyat"(Deeds are by intentions) is regarded mashhur as it was narrated with only one companion of the [[Infallible]].

* [[Riwayat al-Hadith]]

* [[Diraya al-hadith]]

* [[Khabar al-Sahih]]

* [[The Four Books]]