Trans-denominational Narration in the Imami Hadith Tradition: A Re-examination of the Role of

Mosavi, Seyyed Mohammad; Sattar, Hosain; Sazjini, Morteza

doi:10.22034/hsr.2025.51811.1065

Trans-denominational Narration in the Imami Hadith Tradition: A Re-examination of the Role of "Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad Asadī Qazwīnī" in the Narrative System of Shaykh Ṣadūq

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Studies, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Malayer University, Malayer, Iran.

² Assistant Professor, Department of Qur’anic and Hadith Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Foreign Languages, Kashan University, Kashan, Iran.

³ Assistant Professor, Department of Qur’anic and Hadith Studies, Faculty of Qur’anic Sciences, Zabol, University of Qur’anic Sciences and Knowledge, Zabol, Iran.

10.22034/hsr.2025.51811.1065

Abstract

Shaykh Ṣadūq, a preeminent Imami hadith scholar of the 4th century AH, began a new phase of his academic life by traveling to Rayy. On the other hand, Rayy had become a prominent hadith center due to the presence of Imami and Sunni scholars from across the Islamic world. The city's religious diversity, relative political freedom, and favorable economic conditions were also conducive to its growth. An examination of Shaykh Ṣadūq's works reveals that scholars from the hadith school of Qazwin were also active in Rayy. Therefore, the presence of Shaykh Ṣadūq in Rayy and his meeting with Qazwīnī scholars in this region adds to the significance of this study. "Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad ibn Ali ibn Asad Asadī" is a Sunni hadith scholar from Qazwin whose name and memory are only found in Ṣadūq's hadith writings. The appearance of the narrations from Abul Ḥasan Asadī Qazwīnī suggests that he was a Shi'i hadith scholar. However, with the lack of data about him in Shi'i biographical sources on the one hand, and the existence of rare information about him in Sunni narrative sources on the other, his activities and background can be identified. This article, using a descriptive-exploratory method, identifies the Sunni denomination of Abul Ḥasan Asadī, studies this active Qazwīnī scholar in Rayy, and critically examines the consequences and reasons for his presence in the city. The transmission of Sunni narrations from Qazwin to Rayy and the influence of this Qazwīnī scholar on the scholarly foundation of Ṣadūq are among the most important consequences of Abul Ḥasan Asadī's presence in Rayy.

Keywords