Hadiths may be classified according to the number of narrators. Under this categorization, there are two main categories.
1. Mutwatir
2. Khabre Wahid
1. Mutwatir literally means continuous.
Technically, it means that the number of narrators in the chains of transmission in each generation is plentiful. This gives the hadith a high level of credibility and truthfulness.
Under Mutwatir, there are two sub-categories of Hadiths.
1.1 Mutwaitr Lafdhi
1.2 Mutwatir Ma’nvi
Mutwatir Lafdhi refers to hadiths that have the same wording and its meaning is the same among all the narrators.
Mutwatir Ma’nvi refers to hadiths that have the same wording but the meaning is different among the narrators.
2. Khabre-Wahid literally means “one statement.” And it simply refers to hadiths that do not fall under the category of Mutwatir.
Khabre-Wahid hadiths may be further categorised in two ways. They may be categorized according to either (1) the number of narrators or by (2) acceptability.
When categorized under according to the number of Narrators, the sub-categories are:
1. Mash-hoor
2. Aziz
3. Gareeb
When categorized according to the level of acceptability, the sub-categories are:
1. Maqbool
2. Mardood
A Maqbool hadith is further classified into one of these five types:
1.1 Sahih Lizatihi
1.2 Sahih Ligairihi
1.3 Hasan Lizatihi
1.4 Hasan Ligairihi
1.5 Naasikh & Mansokh
And a Mardood hadith is further classified into one of these types:
2.1 Muallaq
2.2 Mursal
2.3 Munqata
2.4 Mudallas
2.5 Muazzal
The next few posts will deal with these categories and sub-categories in more detail. Till them, here’s a quick Classification Tree as per discussed above.
1. Mutwatir
1.1 Mutwatir Lafdhi
1.2 Mutwatir Ma’nvi
2. Khabre Wahid
2(A) Number of Narrators
2.(A).1 Mash-hoor
2.(A).2 Aziz
2.(A).3 Gareeb
2(B) Acceptability
2.(B).1 Maqbool
2.(B).1.1 Sahih Lizatihi
2.(B).1.2 Sahih Ligairihi
2.(B).1.3 Hasan Lizatihi
2.(B).1.4 Hasan Ligairihi
2.(B).1.5 Naasikh & Mansokh
2.(B).2 Mardood
2.(B).2.1 Muallaq
2.(B).2.2 Mursal
2.(B).2.3 Munqata
2.(B).2.4 Mudallas
2.(B).2.5 Muazzal
