Narrator Count: Mashhūr, ʿAzīz, and Gharīb

Distinguish mashhūr, ʿazīz, and gharīb by narrator count. Read the bilingual lesson for Narrator Count: Mashhūr, ʿAzīz, and Gharīb and test your understanding with a focused quiz.

Lesson

1. Mashhūr

● Definition: A mashhūr report has three or more narrators at every level, but does not reach the level of mutawātir. ● Example: “الْمُسْلِمُ مَنْ سَلِمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ مِنْ لِسَانِهِ وَيَدِهِ” ● Simple meaning: A Muslim is one from whose tongue and hand other Muslims are safe. ● Reason: This report is an example of mashhūr and matches the definition given above.

2. ʿAzīz

● Definition: An ʿazīz report has two narrators at one level, never fewer than two at any level, and may have more at other levels. ● Example: “لَا يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى أَكُونَ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ وَالِدِهِ وَوَلَدِهِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ” ● Simple meaning: None of you has complete faith until I am dearer to them than their father, their child, and all people. ● Reason: This report is an example of ʿazīz and matches the definition given above.

3. Gharīb

● Definition: A gharīb report has only one narrator at any one level of its chain. Other levels may have more narrators. ● Example: “الْإِيمَانُ بِضْعٌ وَسَبْعُونَ شُعْبَةً وَالْحَيَاءُ شُعْبَةٌ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ” ● Simple meaning: Faith has over seventy branches, and modesty is a branch of faith. ● Reason: This report is an example of gharīb and matches the definition given above.

Practice questions

Question 1

A report has three or more narrators at every level, but does not reach mutawātir. What is it called?

  • Mashhūr
  • ʿAzīz
  • Gharīb

Question 2

A report's minimum narrator count is exactly two: one level has two narrators, no level has fewer than two, and other levels may have more. Which category is this?

  • ʿAzīz
  • Gharīb
  • Mashhūr

Question 3

If a report has only one narrator at one level while other levels have more, what is it called?

  • Gharīb
  • Mashhūr
  • ʿAzīz

Question 4

Which category is illustrated by “الْإِيمَانُ بِضْعٌ وَسَبْعُونَ شُعْبَةً وَالْحَيَاءُ شُعْبَةٌ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ”?

  • Gharīb
  • ʿAzīz
  • Mashhūr

Question 5

In Hadith studies, gharīb technically means only that the report's message seems strange.

  • True
  • False

Question 6

For a report to be called gharīb, every narrator level must contain only one narrator.

  • True
  • False

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