THE EVIDENTIARY AUTHORITY OF SOLITARY REPORTS IN ISLAMIC THEOLOGY (ʿAQĪDAH)

Abstract

This article examines the issue of the evidentiary authority of solitary reports (khabar al-āḥād) in Islamic theology (ʿaqīdah), with particular reference to the Māturīdī school. It analyzes the definitions and foundations of the science of ʿaqīdah, the role of rational (ʿaqlī) and transmitted (samʿī) evidences, and the classification of beliefs into definitive (qaṭʿī) and probable (ẓannī) categories. The study highlights scholarly debates regarding the acceptance of solitary reports in creedal matters and clarifies that their rejection is not absolute but context – dependent. Drawing on classical theological sources, the article demonstrates that solitary reports have been widely used in discussions of non-essential creedal issues, especially in matters related to the unseen (samʿiyyāt). It concludes that while solitary reports do not yield absolute certainty, they retain evidentiary valueand play a significant role in the structure of Islamic belief.