THE SCIENTIFIC JOURNEYS OF THE MUHADDITHS OF MAVARRANAHR AND THE GEOGRAPHY OF THEIR TRAVEL ROUTES

Abstract. This article analyzes the meanings of the word "rihla" in both its lexicographical and hadith-relatedcontexts. In the dictionary, the term "rihla" refers to "seeing, traveling, and riding something." In the context ofhadith studies, however, it is used in the phrase "ar-rihla fi talabul-hadis," which means traveling for the purposeof studying hadith, learning about narrators, and receiving narrations from famous hadith scholars. A person whoundertakes this journey is called a "rohil," and those who travel extensively are referred to as "rahhol" or "javvol."According to Fuat Sezgin, rihla refers to scholarly travel undertaken with the aim of compiling hadith, meetingimportant hadith scholars, and acquiring information about hadith. Orientalist Ignaz Goldziher, on the other hand,emphasizes that the rihla in the first three centuries was an activity focused on gathering oral hadiths. This articlediscusses the role of rihla in the history and development of hadith studies, as well as the geographical aspects ofscientific journeys of the hadith scholars of Maveraunnahr during the Samanid and Qarakhanid periods. It alsoexplores the social, cultural, political, and economic factors that contributed to the development of hadith studiesin this region.