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Abstract
This article explores the formation and development of Hadith studies in Transoxiana, particularly in Samarkand and its surrounding rural districts during the early and middle Islamic periods. Based on historical sources and epigraphic monuments (gravestone inscriptions), the author reconstructs the scientific geography of the region, highlighting the significance of local intellectual centers such as Varaghsar, Kushaniya, Afrankad, and Kundi. Furthermore, it analyzes how social responsibilities related to the management of water structures and dams in the region were integrated with the scholarly activities of local theologians.
The research focuses on the lives and scientific legacies of prominent Hadith scholars and jurists, such as Abu Zakariya al-Varaghsari, Muhammad Bashoro, and the Afrankadi dynasty. By cross-referencing inscriptions on kayrak stones with the works of historians like al-Nasafi and al-Sam'ani, numerous previously unknown names and dates have been clarified. This proves that the Samarkand school of Hadith developed systematically not only in major urban centers but also in remote rural areas.
In conclusion, the article summarizes the interconnectedness of the sciences of Hadith, Fiqh (jurisprudence), and Kalam (theology) in the region from the 3rd to the 6th centuries AH. The findings indicate that the scholarly environment of Samarkand and its environs served as a crucial link in the dissemination of the "Six Authentic Books" (Al-Sihah al-Sitta) and in enhancing the intellectual potential of Islamic civilization. The systematization of epigraphic data provides new source-based foundations for studying the history of Uzbek statehood and culture.