The Syrian Hadith Tradition
The Syrian center of early hadith transmission had a different profile from Medina’s. Abu Hurayra dominated Medinan hadith in sheer volume; Syrian transmission was more regionally particular, preserving statements that reached Syria through specific chains not widely distributed elsewhere.
Al-Miqdam was one of the principal nodes in the Syrian chain: he transmitted directly from the Prophet and his hadith appear in all six major Sunni collections (al-Kutub al-Sitta).
The Unusual Permissions
Al-Miqdam is particularly associated with two categories of unusual hadith:
Domestic donkey meat: He transmitted a hadith in which the Prophet prohibited domestic donkey meat after initially permitting it (a well-known ruling); but also preserved variants about the progression of this ruling. His hadith are cited in debates about naskh (abrogation) in this area of food law.
Prophetic family and fay’: He transmitted hadith emphasizing the Prophet’s family’s rights in the fay’ (state revenue from non-combat acquisition) and their exemption from zakat — a topic with significant implications for political theology about the Imam’s household’s rights.
His Longevity
Al-Miqdam lived into the Umayyad period, dying around 87 AH (706 CE) in Syria. He is therefore a bridge between the Companions and the early Tabi’un, and his long life meant that his hadith were available to a wide circle of second-generation transmitters.
See also: Seerah Abu Sufyan Ibn Harb, Seerah Qatada Ibn Al Numan, Quran Compilation History, Seerah Dihya Al Kalbi, Seerah Al Arqam Ibn Abi Al Arqam