Examination of the Foundations of Hadith Studies by Allameh Askari and Ayatollah Jafar Subhani

Abstract

The study of hadith, given its unique position in religious sciences, has drawn the attention of scholars for centuries. Since the Sunnah of the Prophet, alongside Quranic verses, can lead us to significant achievements in religious sciences, it is essential to deeply analyze narrations and distinguish authentic and reliable traditions from those that are fabricated or altered. The proper discernment of hadiths paves the way for researchers in the field of hadith studies. Throughout history, the sayings of the Prophet (PBUH) and the Imams (AS) have been subjected to various challenges, making the differentiation between authentic and unauthentic traditions difficult at times. Consequently, scholars and prominent figures in religious sciences have made extensive efforts to fulfill this critical responsibility effectively. Among these scholars, Ayatollah Subhani and Allameh Askari have proposed methodologies for identifying authentic hadiths based on their scholarly expertise. Allameh Askari applied a range of criteria, both internal (textual) and external (contextual), for critiquing weak narrations, with greater emphasis placed on internal criteria. Ayatollah Subhani also introduced several principles for achieving this goal. A thorough review of the works of Allameh Askari and Ayatollah Subhani reveals that Allameh Askari agrees with other hadith scholars, including Ayatollah Subhani, on only one criterion for evaluating hadiths—comparing narrations against the Quran. However, other criteria proposed by him demonstrate innovative and noteworthy approaches.