Ambiguity in isnad

One of the two fundamental pillars of hadith research is the study of isnad (chains of transmission). This study addresses the issue of ambiguity and unclear narrators within isnads, first by discussing it within a conceptual framework and then by exploring its impact as one of the subfields of hadith science. The study also examines the related concepts and issues in hadith methodology. Subsequently, it discusses the reasons for ambiguity in isnads and how the identity of an unclear narrator can be determined, as well as the sources that can be utilized for this purpose. In the final section, the study analyzes the nature of the narrators who either leave or are left ambiguous in the isnads of the hadiths found in Ahmad ibn Hanbal's (d. 241/855) al-Musnad and attempts to determine whether there is a common characteristic among these narrators. Additionally, this section evaluates the phenomenon of ambiguity in isnads in terms of the development of the hadith transmission system.