Ṣaḥiḥ Ibn e Ḥibbān: Introduction and Specification

صحیح ابن ِحبان رحمۃ اللہ علیہ: تعارف و خصائص

Abstract

This study explores Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān, one of the most significant works of ḥadīth compiled by the eminent scholar Abū Ḥātim Muḥammad ibn Ḥibbān (d. 354 AH). The book, originally titled al-Musnad al-Ṣaḥīḥ ʿalā al-Taqāsīm wa al-Anwāʿ, occupies a distinctive place in the corpus of ḥadīth literature due to its unique method of classification and critical approach to the authenticity of narrations. Unlike the traditional topical arrangement found in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Ibn Ḥibbān devised an innovative system of divisions (taqāsīm) and categories (anwāʿ), which, while systematic, often presents challenges for modern readers in locating specific traditions. Despite not being included in the Ṣiḥāḥ Sittah, the book is regarded by ḥadīth specialists as among the most reliable collections after al-Bukhārī and Muslim. Its rigorous selection criteria, methodological precision, and scholarly impact have made it a valuable source for jurists, theologians, and historians. This paper highlights the introduction, characteristics, and distinctive features of Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān, while situating its importance within the broader development of ḥadīth litreature.