Digital Islamic Humanities

Digital Islamic Humanities

The Impact of Narrator Uncertainty on the Process of Hadith Chain Evaluation within the Dirayah al-Noor Software Environment

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Expert of the Department of Hadith and Rijal Studies, Computer Research Center of Islamic Sciences, Qom Iran
2 Researcher in Rijāl and Hadith, Noor Computer Research Center of Islamic Sciences, Qom, Iran
Abstract

Narrator uncertainty constitutes one of the major challenges in the evaluation of hadith chains of transmission due to its complexity and its impact on the principal elements of sanad evaluation, including teacher–student relationships, authentication and discrediting (tawthīq and taḍʿīf), and transmission continuity and interruption (irsāl and ittiṣāl). Consequently, it plays a decisive role in the classification of hadiths as ṣaḥīḥ (sound), muwaththaq (reliable), ḥasan (good), or ḍaʿīf (weak). Conducted within the infrastructure of the Dirayah al-Noor software, the present study utilizes this platform to enhance the sanad evaluation process through the identification, aggregation, and analysis of the effects of narrator uncertainty. Based on the existing framework of the Dirayah al-Noor software infrastructure, this study proposes a set of codes for various conditions affecting the sanad and its constituent elements. By applying and matching these codes to different sanad configurations, the impact of narrator uncertainty on sanad evaluation can be identified and examined. These codes serve as an interface between the researcher and the computer, enabling the identification and analysis of the effects of narrator uncertainty within sanad datasets. By introducing new methodological solutions, this study contributes to the completion and enhancement of the sanad evaluation process. Furthermore, to improve analytical precision, different types of relationships—including teacher–student relationships and narrator–source (marwī ʿanhu) relationships—are examined separately. This distinction helps address existing challenges in narrator classification and general authentication (tawthīq al-ʿāmm). Ultimately, by identifying fundamental challenges and proposing practical solutions, this study represents a significant step toward improving the digital evaluation process of hadith chains of transmission.
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