Abstract

The issue of hadith purification and the preservation of the Prophetic tradition in the Ibadi sect has led to the development of the science of Rijāl as one of the fundamental pillars of hadith studies in this sect. Given the widespread fabrication of hadiths throughout various historical periods, examining the principles and criteria of this discipline is essential for assessing narrations. This study aims to explain and analyze the foundations of Ibadi Rijāl studies and compare them with those of other sects, namely Shia and Sunni, using a descriptive-analytical method. In its initial stages, by reviewing the history of Rijāl science and its sources, including the Musnad Rabi‘ ibn Ḥabīb and the Mudawwanah of Abū Ghānim al-Khurāsānī, the research demonstrates how the Ibadis, unlike other schools that primarily rely on Sunni or Shia sources, have managed to establish an independent identity in hadith scholarship. This article explores the various dimensions of Ibadi Rijāl studies and explains its influence on the sect's religious identity. By examining criteria such as integrity, precision, Islam, maturity, intellect, moral uprightness, consistency of practice with narration, verification of the primary narrator, avoidance of tadlīs (concealment of defects in narration), and endorsement of narrations by scholars, the study highlights the distinctive features of the Ibadi Rijāl system. Additionally, the necessity of referring to Sunni sources for evaluating hadiths, particularly due to the lack of independent Ibadi works on jarḥ wa ta‘dīl (criticism and authentication of narrators), underscores key differences between this sect and others.