Abstract

First of all, this article discusses the concept of Sunnah. This presents definitions given by the scholars of Ahl-e-Sunnah Wa'l-Jama'ah (the Sunni sect) and Ahl al-Tashayyu' (the Shia sect), along with highlighting the differences between them. Since the Imamiyyah (Shia) also believe in the Sunnah of the Ahl al-Bayt (the family of the Prophet), and they present arguments in its favour, the responses from the Ahl as-Sunnah (Sunni) side also embellish this article. Following that, the article discusses the different categories of hadith based on their narration and the arguments and approaches of the Hanafi jurists and the Shia in validating and utilising the concept of solitary narration (Khabr-e-Wahid) in legal reasoning. Imam Abu Hanifa is among the first scholars to consider solitary narration as a valid proof, and he has mentioned seven conditions for its validity. The Shia also consider solitary narration as valid proof and present their arguments in its favour. Finally, the article concludes by presenting the beautiful outcomes of the discussion regarding the ruling of solitary narration.