Alternative Approaches in Evaluation of Hadith: An Analysis Systematic Literature Review (SLR)

Abstract

The stagnation of hadith evaluation can be overcome by various interdisciplinary approaches as its critical method. It would expand the knowledge of hadith, particularly in the field of hadith criticism, by applying different approaches. Therefore, this study will describe three approaches in assessing the authenticity of hadith: firstly, the approach of jurists (fuqahā'); secondly, through the historical approach; and thirdly, the scientific-rational approach. Through a literature review, this research will present these three topics based on observations made on relevant studies, books and works by scholars related to the topic of discussion. Jurists (fuqahā') only view hadith as part of the Islamic law (shariah). Thus, their evaluation of a hadith leads to only two conclusions: maqbūl, which means it can be practised (ma'mul bih) and mardūd, which cannot be practised. Moreover, the differences in the jurists' evaluation of the reliability of narrators (‘adālah al-ruwāh) are considered more tolerant than the criteria used by hadith scholars. Furthermore, scholars also involve a historical approach to assess the authenticity of a hadith. For example, this is done by Jonathan Brown with his three-tiered method or by Sādah al-Ghumariyyīn through critical analysis and comparison of classical texts. Besides, al-Idlibi offers the scientific-rational approach to evaluate the authenticity of hadith. In conclusion, these three approaches, which are the jurist's approach, the historical approach and the scientific-rational approach, contribute to assessing the authenticity of hadith, thus enriching the field of hadith criticism with diverse methodologies.