(Conclusion (1)
[The Classes of Transmitters]
Among the matters of real importance to the hadith scholars (2) is the knowledge of the classes (ṭabaqāt) of narrators. Its benefit lies in safeguarding against the confusion of similar names, enabling one to detect and clarify cases of tadlīs (3), and in coming to a precise understanding of what is meant by a chain linked through ʿanʿana.
[Definition of a Class]
In their technical usage, a “class” is “a group who share the same age and who met the same teachers.” A single person (4) may, however, belong to two different classes depending on the perspective adopted. Take Anas b. Mālik as an example: inasmuch as his companionship with the Prophet (5) ﷺ is firmly established, he is counted (6) in (7) the class of the earliest ten, yet on account of his young age he is placed in the class that follows them (8).
Accordingly, whoever considers the Companions from the standpoint of companionship regards them all as one single class, as Ibn Ḥibbān (9) and others (10) have done; whereas whoever looks at them (11)
(1) In manuscript T this place is left blank.
(2) Manuscript K reads “al-muhaqqiqin” (the critical scholars).
(3) Manuscripts H, W, and Z read “al-mudallisin” (those who practise tadlis); manuscripts J, Ḥ, L and a marginal copy on Y read “Talbis al-mudallisin” (The Deception of the Mudallisin); while a marginal note on W has simply “al-mudallis” (the mudallis). Al-Qari, in his Sharh Sharh al-Nukhbah, p. 717, explains that this is a verbal noun annexed to its object.
(4) The word “al-shakhs” (the person) is absent from K.
(5) Manuscript J has “sahibtu al-nabiyya” (I accompanied the Prophet), whereas H reads “suhbat al-nabiy” (companionship of the Prophet).
(6) The verb “yuʿaddu” (is counted) is omitted in J and H.
(7) Manuscript A inserts the preposition “min” (from).
(8) Manuscripts J, D, H, Ḥ, Y, M, and a marginal copy on L read “tabqat man baʿdahum” (the generation after them).
(9) In his two works: al-Thiqat and Mashahir ʿUlama al-Amsar.
(10) Among those who adopt this classification are Muslim in al-Tabaqat, Khalifa ibn Khayyat in al-Tabaqat, and others.
(11) Manuscript K reads “ilayh” (to him).