Abstract
Shaykh Saduq, one of the most eminent hadith scholars in Shia Islam, occupies a distinguished position in the history of Shia hadith scholarship due to his profound expertise in ‘ilm al-rijal (the science of narrators) and hadith studies, as well as his prolific authorship of nearly 300 works. Born in 305 AH, reportedly through the supplication of Imam Mahdi (p.b.u.h), his proximity to the era of the Imams (p.b.u.t) and the prevalence of factors that could compromise the integrity of hadiths during his time render an understanding of his criteria for hadith selection, particularly concerning mutafarrid (solitary) hadiths, of significant scholarly importance. Early Shiite hadith scholars, including Shaykh Saduq, employed a method of selecting authentic hadiths based on a framework of corroborative evidence, referred to as the “system of evidence” (nizam al-qara’in). Among the various types of narrations, the *mutafarrid* hadith, characterized by its singular chain of transmission from a lone narrator, is often subject to greater scrutiny regarding its authenticity compared to other hadiths. Nevertheless, such narrations are not inherently weak and necessitate meticulous examination. While some scholars contend that early authorities like Shaykh Saduq refrained from acting upon solitary hadiths, a comprehensive review of his works, particularly Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih, reveals that he did not dismiss solitary narrations solely on the basis of their singularity. This study, employing a descriptive-analytical methodology, investigates Shaykh Saduq’s approach to solitary hadith narrations. It demonstrates that his methodology, grounded in the “system of evidence,” led him to accept certain solitary hadiths while rejecting others.
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