a search into the earlier tradition sources of the sunnīs indicates that part of them, entitled kitāb al-faḍā’il, address the excellences (faḍā’il) and virtues (manāqib) of individuals and groups. dedicating a separate chapter under this rubric along other chapters and sections of ḥadith collections reveals the importance of this issue and the endeavors of the compilers of sunnī ḥadith collecti...