بسم الله وحده والصلاة والسلام على من لا نبي بعده
Literal Meaning: The coming of things consecutively with small intervals.
Technical Meaning: The news of a group of people that gives the benefit of ‘Ilm (Dharuri) in itself.
‘Ilm Adh-Dharuri: Qadhi ‘Isa bin Abān says that the one who rejects Mutawātir, he will leave the fold of Islam, because Mutawātir is like as if the person saw/heard the Prophet ﷺ directly.
Conditions of Mutawātir:
[1] The amount of informers is such a huge amount that it is impossible for them to accidentally or purposely collude on a lie.
[2] The huge amount should be present in every level, not in exact numbers but in remaining a huge amount.
[3] The khabar should be perceivable through the senses (such that the primary recipients perceived it through one of the five senses).
Regarding being perceivable through the senses, it means that the fact that the Prophet ﷺ said it should be perceivable; not necessarily what the content of the Ḥadīth is – the content of the Ḥadīth can be ma’qul.
Tawātur is of the Prophet ﷺ saying the statement or doing the action, etc. The contents of the hadith is ‘Ilm Istidlali. For example, the ḥadīth of ‘Al-Bayyinatu Ala al-Mudda’i wal Yaminu Ala Mudda’a Alaih’. It has reached us through tawātur that the Prophet ﷺ has said it, but the contents in it is known as ‘Ilm Istidlal.
Is a Specific Number Required?
According to the chosen opinion of the Ḥanafiyyah, a specific number is not required for mutawātir. As long as the benefit of ‘ilm is attained, it does not matter whether the number is big or small. According to the Ḥanafiyyah, a minimum of more than four narrators is not necessary.
Types of Mutawātir:
Although partial parts of these types are found in the books of Uṣūl, ‘Allāmah Kashmiri divided it into four types:
[1] Tawātur Isnad: When such a large group of narrators narrate a hadith that it is impossible for them to collude upon a lie. This is according to the muḥaddithūn.
[2] Tawātur Tabaqah: When a group has taken from a group up until the Prophet ﷺ. This is the tawātur of the Fuqahā. Like the tawātur of the Qur’ān.
[3] Tawātur Amal Wa Turath: A large group have consecutively performed an action such that it is impossible for them to collude on a lie. Like five salah, fasting, visiting the Prophet’s ﷺ grave.
[4] Tāwatur Qadr Mushtarak: When something is transmitted solitarily, but together it makes a huge amount therefore become mutawātir when combined. Like the Mu’jizat performed.
The one who rejects the first three will become Kāfir, as for the third, he will become Kāfir if it is clear.
Taken from: al-Madkhal ila Uṣūl al-Ḥadīth ‘ala Manhaj al-Ḥanafiyya: (pp. 22-27)