Transmitters described as "ṣalīḥ", "Suwaylīḥ" and "Salīḥ al-ḥadīth" in Yaḥyā B. maʿīn's Tārīkh and their transmissions

The strength of isnāds, the first step of the determining the authenticity of aḥādīth, is largely depended on the examination of the trustworthiness and the accuracy of the transmitters. The examination can reach a sound conclusion only if the meanings of the terms of transmitter criticism are known. In this study, first, the competence of the transmitters described as "ṣalīḥ", "ṣalīḥ al-ḥadīth" and "ṣuwaylīḥ" in Yaḥyā b. Maʿīn's Tārīkh is determined by taking into account other critics' revaluation about these transmitters. Then, it is determined how these terms are used in ḥadīth methodology books. After this theoretical examination, whether Bukhārī and Muslim narrated the transmissions of the transmitters determined as "weak" and "appropriate for as a secondary and auxiliary" in their Ṣaḥīḥs is established. Lastly, how these terms are explained in the ḥadīth methodology works is given in order to achieve a full description of the usage of them in ḥadīth scholarship. In the last part of the thesis, it is determined that out of forty-two transmitters examined, ten are "reliable", twenty-three are "appropriate as a secondary and auxiliary", eight are "weak" and one is "matrūk". It is seen that Bukhārī did not narrate any transmissions from "weak" transmitters of the remaining thirty-two. On the other hand, he narrated from five of the twenty-three "appropriate as a secondary and auxiliary" transmitters only to support the main aḥadīth of the chapters. As for Muslim, he transmitted twelve traditions from seven transmitters who are appropriate as a secondary and auxiliary, and two traditions from two weak transmitters.