Abstract

The era in which the present most populated, most civilized central city of Afghanistan Kabul- was named in its present form is not exactly known. Rig Veda called it Kobha, and Avesta named it Vackereta, Baltimus (Ptolemy), the famous Greek historian mentioned its name as Kabura and its residents as Kabolitae. Abu Dawud al-Sajistani (817--889 CE), the renowned Imam of Hadith, in his Sunan used its present form of name in two places. The city of Kabul has many historical sites belonging to various ancient dynasties that ruled it. It also is the place of eternal rest of some companions of the Prophet (PBUH). The number of persons who narrated the Prophetic traditions (muhaddithun) in the first golden era of Islam stemming out of this city, according to our research, reaches six. They are: Salim b. ‘Ajalan, ‘Ali b. Mujahid, Shimr b. ‘Atiyyah, Muhammad b. al-‘Abbas, Makhul b. Abi Muslim and Abu Hanifah (Nu’man b. Thabit). The present article throws light on the subject along with a brief introduction of the city from original sources.