The Place of mukhadramun in the science of hadith

In the Science of Hadith, 'Mukhadramun' is the title given to those Muslims who lived in the time of the Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, but did not have an opportunity to see him. This study was made to establish their place in the Science of Hadith. This study comprises an Introduction and two chapters. In the Introduction, I have mentioned the concepts relating to the main topic and the books that have so far been written on it. The terms 'Şahaba' (the Prophet's Companions) and 'Tabiun' (the Generation following the Companions) are particularly described and the virtues of these two earliest generations of Islam are explained. Following this, both the literal and terminological meaning of the term 'Mukhadram' is given and it is compared with the terms 'Şahaba' and 'Tabiun'. In the First Chapter, the criteria used to establish who is a 'Mukhadram' are discussed and different opinions about their number are given. You will also find in this Chapter a list of the 'Mukhadramun' made by Ibn Khajar al-Askalani. The names included in the list of Ibn Khajar and also accepted by other specialized writers as belonging to the 'Mukhadramun' are pointed to with certain symbols. In the Second Chapter, the reliability of the 'Mukhadramun' in the transmission of Traditions is discussed and a biography of some from amongst them is given, pointing out whether each is an absolutely reliable one or not. In this Chapter, you will also find examples for the Traditions transmitted by the 'Mukhadramun' directly from the Companions without any intermediaries. The Traditions narrated by them from the Companions through an intermediary one are also pointed out and the names of the intermediaries from whom such Traditions were related are particularly given. At the end of this Chapter, you will find a table showing the Traditions to be found in certain, basic books of Traditions, and which were narrated by the 43 'Mukhadram' whose names I have been able to find in relevant books. It has finally been stressed that the 'Mukhadramun' whose narrations to be found in basic books of Traditions number as many as 4541, have a significant place in the Science of Hadith.