The Aqsaam (categories/divisions) of the Sunnah in respect to the Ruwaat (narrators) “As-Sanad” (The chain)
The Sunnah is divided into three categories in respect to the Sanad (chain): Al-Mutawaatir, Al-Mash’hoor and Khabar Al-Aahaad.
1 – Al-Mutawaatir:
Al-Mutawaatir linguistically means: Consecutiveness, one after another with a gap (of time) between.
Al-Mutawaatir in accordance to the Istilaah (terminological definition): That which was related in the three eras (or generations) by a large number making it impossible for them to collude upon a lie.
The three eras (generations) are: The era of the Sahaabah, the era of the Taabi’een and the era of the Taabi’ At-Taabi’een.
The Sunnah Al-Mutawaatirah is Qat’iy Ath-Thuboot (definite in transmission) in respect to it coming from the Nabi (saw) and therefore it is obligatory to work or act with it in respect to what it came with whether this was Ahkaam or Aqaa’id (beliefs).
An example of the Sunnah Al-Qawliyah Al-Mutawaatirah is his Qawl (saw):
“Whoever lies about me intentionally then let him occupy his seat (place) in hellfire” (Al-Bukhaari and Muslim).
An example of the Sunnah Al-Fi’liyah Al-Mutawaatirah are like those related to the performance of the five prayers.
As for the Tawaatur Al-Ma’nawiy (in meaning) then this is the transmission of the narrators of a single Sunnah with different Alfaazh (wordings) in the case where the narrators of each wording or worded version do not reach the level or point of Tawaatur however the collection or collective of the narrators of those different wordings (Alfaazh) reach the level of Tawaatur. An example of this Sunnah is that the actions in the ‘Ibaadaat (acts of worship) are based or built upon the Niyah (intention). As for the Alfaazh (wordings) that have incorporated and included this meaning then they are like his Qawl (saw): “Verily the actions are only by the intentions” (Al-Bukhaari, Muslim, Abu Daawood, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasaa’iy), his statement (saw): “Whoever fights to make the word of Allah the highest then he is Fee Sabeelillah (in the way of Allah)” (Mutaffaq ‘Alaihi) and: “There is no Hijrah after Al Fat’h (conquest) but rather there is Al-Jihaad and the Niyah (intention)” (Agreed upon) and his statement (saw): “The one who does not resolve (i.e. make intention) for the Siyaam (fasting) before Fajr has no fasting for him” Abu Daawood and At Tirmidhi)
The Number by which At-Tawaatur is attained:
All of the opinions that have specified a specific number for the accomplishment of Tawaatur do not have a basis to support them whether textual or ‘Aqliy (intellectual). That is because the Sunnah Al-Mutawaatirah in which Yaqeen (certainty) is attained, from the angle of Thuboot (transmission), must be narrated by a Jamaa’ah (group) and not by a particular number. The number of this group and the distance of their locations must make it impossible for them to collude or collaborate upon a lie.
As such the Shuroot (conditions) of the Tawaatur are three:
A – A number of narrators that secures and prevents their collusion upon a lie.
B – That the knowledge of the Ruwaat (relaters) is based upon hearing and witnessing and is not based upon deduction or inference.
C – That the Tawaatur occurs in all three eras: The Sahaabah, the Taabi’een and the Taabi’iy At-Taabi’een.
2 – As-Sunnah Al-Mash’hoorah:
This is that which has been related from the Sahaabah by a number that does not reach the level of Tawaatur and then reached the level in the era or time of the Taabi’een and the Taabi’iy At-Taabi’een.
This Sunnah establishes Zhann (indefiniteness) and it does not establish Yaqeen (certainty) because it is not Qat’iy Ath-Thuboot from the Nabi (saw). It is therefore a Hujjah (evidence and source of proof) in respect to the Ahkaam Ash-Shar’iyah but not a Hujjah for the Aqaa’id.
An example from the Ahaadeeth Al-Mash’hoorah is his Qawl (saw): “Verily the actions are only by the intentions” and this is from the Sunnah Al-Mash’hoorah.
3 – Sunnah Al-Aahaad – Khabar Al-Aahaad:
This is what has been related by a number that does not reach the level of Tawaatur in the three eras. There is no difference or disagreement amongst the Muslims in respect to the Sunnah Al Aahaad representing a Hujjah upon the Muslims in respect to the obligation of acting by or working with it and to adhere to its Ahkaam. The proof and evidence (Burhaan) for this is established from a number of angles including:
1 – The Ijmaa’ As-Sahaabah in a number of incidents and occurrences that are too numerous to be counted in regards to the acceptance of the Khabar Al-Waahid and acting by it. An example is when ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab (ra) acted in accordance to the Khabar (report) of ‘Abdur Rahmaan Bin ‘Auf (ra) in respect to the Nabi (saw) taking the Jizyah from the Majoos. This is when he related from the Messenger of Allah (saw) that he said: “Apply the same to them as you have applied to the Ahl ul-Kitaab (people of the book)” (Al-Muwatta’).
2 – The Messenger (saw) found it sufficient to send Aahaad (singles/individuals) from amongst the Sahaabah to the rulers and nations to inform them about Islaam and its Ahkaam like when he sent Mu’aadh Ibn Jabal to Yemen and sent others to the Persians, Romans, Iraq, Ash-Shaam and Egypt.
3 – Allah Ta’Aalaa said:
And it is not for the believers to go forth [to battle] all at once. For there should separate from every division of them a group [remaining] to obtain understanding in the Deen and warn their people when they return to them that they may beware (At-Taubah 122).
The word Taa’ifah (in the Aayah) in accordance to the Arabic language is used for the Waahid (one) and more than Waahid (one). Consequently, if the Khabar Al-Waahid was not a Hujjah for actions then the warning of those who had obtained understanding in the Deen would hold no benefit for the people returning from Al-Jihaad.