The Hadith of the Bird (Ḥadīth al-Ṭayr), as a prominent narration concerning the virtues of Imam Ali (a.s.), has consistently garnered attention from both Shia and Sunni scholars. Shams al-Din al-Dhahabi, a significant Sunni figure, engaged with this hadith in multiple works, expressing differing stances. This research aims to investigate and analyze the evolving perspective of al-Dhahabi regarding the Hadith of the Bird, focusing on the development of his views throughout his diverse writings. To achieve this, a selection of his works was examined in six stages, clarifying the phases of his intellectual transformation concerning this hadith. The research findings reveal that al-Dhahabi, in his earlier works, such as “Mawḍūʿāt al-Mustadrak,” deemed it fabricated (mawḍūʿ), while in subsequent works like “Mīzān al-Iʿtidāl,” he considered it “denounced” (munkar), weakening the narrators of the hadith and viewing its transmission as indicative of a narrator’s unreliability. However, in a later stage, within his book “Tārīkh al-Islām,” he acknowledged the existence of numerous chains of transmission (ṭuruq), adopting a more balanced approach. Ultimately, in his later works, particularly “Tadhkirat al-Ḥuffāẓ,” he emphasized the existence of a foundational “basis” (aṣl) for this narration, thereby articulating his final viewpoint on the matter.
mohammadzad, G. (2025). A study of the evolution of al-Dhahabi’s views on the Hadith al-Tayr. Ulum-i Hadith, (), -. doi: 10.22034/uh.2025.51981.3605
MLA
ghader mohammadzad. "A study of the evolution of al-Dhahabi’s views on the Hadith al-Tayr". Ulum-i Hadith, , , 2025, -. doi: 10.22034/uh.2025.51981.3605
HARVARD
mohammadzad, G. (2025). 'A study of the evolution of al-Dhahabi’s views on the Hadith al-Tayr', Ulum-i Hadith, (), pp. -. doi: 10.22034/uh.2025.51981.3605
VANCOUVER
mohammadzad, G. A study of the evolution of al-Dhahabi’s views on the Hadith al-Tayr. Ulum-i Hadith, 2025; (): -. doi: 10.22034/uh.2025.51981.3605
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