Maʿrūf: The reliable narrator's report against a weak report

1. In this lesson

A thiqah—a reliable narrator—transmits a report that opposes a weak narrator's report. What is the reliable narrator's report called in this comparison?

This lesson explains that meaning of maʿrūf.

1. Weak narrator: here “weak” concerns transmission of reports, not physical weakness.

2. The definition of maʿrūf

The report of a thiqah narrator that opposes a weak narrator's report is called maʿrūf.

Keep both points together:
• Its narrator is reliable.
• The report opposes a weak narrator's report.

3. Which report receives the name?

In this comparison, maʿrūf names the reliable narrator's report, not the weak narrator's report.

The definition identifies the reliable side whose report opposes the weak report.

Merely mentioning a reliable narrator does not establish this particular case; an opposing weak report must also be present.

4. Maḥfūẓ, shādhdh and maʿrūf

• When an awthaq—a more reliable narrator—and a reliable narrator transmit opposing reports, the awthaq report is maḥfūẓ and the opposing reliable narrator's report is shādhdh.
• When a reliable narrator's report opposes a weak narrator's report, the reliable report is maʿrūf.

When naming a reliable narrator's report, the reliability of the opposing narrator matters.

5. Being well known is not enough

In ordinary speech, “maʿrūf” means known or familiar. Here it names a particular type of report.

Many people having heard a report does not, by itself, make it maʿrūf under this definition.

The distinction concerns the stated opposing reports of reliable and weak narrators, not how familiar people are with the report.

6. Summary

• Maʿrūf is the reliable narrator's report opposing a weak narrator's report in this comparison.
• Maḥfūẓ involved the more reliable and the reliable; maʿrūf involves the reliable and the weak.
• Mere familiarity or the presence of a reliable narrator's name is not enough for this specific definition.