Principles of Riwayat & Dirayat — Seal of the Prophets Vol. 1

Introduction

In this discourse from The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 1), Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra) details the historical events and scholarly insights surrounding Principles of Riwayat & Dirayat.

Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 1)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra)
Section: I-Early Sources of Sirat & Islamic History
Pages: Book pp. 13–15 (PDF pp. 37–39)
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: [Methodology of Narration] | Next: [Early Examples of Dirayat] »

Historical Account

The fundamental principles of this knowledge are that the integrity of every instance can be tested on the basis of two methods, and unless its

authenticity is evidently established by both methods, one cannot vest full confidence in it. The first method is of Riwāyat. In other words, the objective is to test the external testimonies of the instance which has been narrated. Hence the purpose is to determine whether the channel through which the narration has reached us is adequately reliable or not. The second method is of Dirāyat. In other words, the objective is to put to trial the internal testimonies of the instance that has been narrated. That is, irrespective of the channel through which the narration has reached us, whether the instance in itself and on the basis of its environment, can be presumed to be true and authentic. Therefore, in order to audit the validity of all narrations as well as historical documentation, these two fundamental principles were invented by the Muslims. The Muslims have followed these principles since the advent of Islām. On the basis of these two fundamental principles, many terms and conditions worthy of consideration have been specified. The most common of these terms are mentioned below.

[Narration (Publishers)]

[Rationalization (Publishers)]

In accordance with the principles of Riwāyat, the following terms have been deemed most significant:

1. The narrator should be well-known.

2. The narrator should be truthful in speech and honest.

3. The narrator should possess the ability to comprehend and

rationalize.

4. The narrator should possess a sound memory.

5. The narrator should not be one to habitually exaggerate,

summarize or sway original reports in any way.

6. The narrator should not have a personal interest in the narration

that is related, lest one may categorize the narrator as biased.

7. The encounter of two narrators who come after one another must

be acceptable, based on their time periods and circumstances.

8. All the links of the narration should be fully preserved and no

narrator should be missing from the top, middle or bottom.

9. As per the above mentioned characteristics, the solidity of any

narration increases with an increase in the credibility and trustworthiness of its narrators.

10. In the same manner, the strength and authenticity of a narration

multiplies as the number of credible narrators increases. In conformity with the principles of Dirāyat the following terms have been deemed most significant:

1. The narration should not be contradictory to any reliable and

authentic historical record. In accordance with this principle any narration which contradicts the Holy Qur’ān, must be disregarded.

2. The narration should not clash with any evidently proven fact.

3. The narration should not be contradictory to any narration of

greater authenticity.

4. The narration should not be of an incident which, if true, should

have a greater number of people to testify to it, yet only one narrator is existent.

5. The narration should not have such elements as can be negated or

considered ambiguous by common sense.

[For these principles refer to: * Fatḥul-Mugīth, By Ḥāfiẓ Zain-ud-Dīn ‘Abdur-Raḥīm bin Ḥusain Al-‘Irāqī * Al-Mauḍu‘ātul-Kubrā, By Mullā ‘Alī bin Muḥammad Sulṭān Qārī, pp.291-326, “Al-Umūrul- Kulliyyatillatī…..Al-Ḥadīthu Mauḍu‘an”, Qadīmī Kutub Khānah, Ārām Bāgh, Karachi * Muqaddamah Ibni Ṣalāḥ, An-Nau‘us-Sādisu wa ‘Ishrūn, pp. 83-96, Maṭba‘us-Sa‘ādah Miṣr, First Edition (1326 A.H.)]

Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 1)
Section: I-Early Sources of Sirat & Islamic History | Navigation: « Previous: [Methodology of Narration] | Next: [Early Examples of Dirayat] »