Hadith[1] is one of the main concepts in contemporary Islam; this term is used to describe a saying, action, or an argument that can be attributed to the prophet Muhammad (Campo 280). Each of them can be of great relevance to contemporary leading Muslim scholars.
These sayings are critical for the understanding of Quran. Moreover, they are important for the interpretation and evaluation of different legal issues that people may need to resolve. They are also of great interest to Western historians who want to understand the life of the Muslim community.
This paper is aimed at discussing the science of Hadith. Overall, this discipline is aimed at determining the authenticity of a certain statement which is ascribed to Muhammad. This science has its methodology that is supposed to examine historical evidence regarding the Prophet Muhammad. On the whole, one can say that this science can help people better understand various aspects of Islam as well as people who practice this religion.
First of all, it should be noted that Muhammad did not want other people to record his statements, even though he spent much time in order to ensure that his ideas could be understood by listeners or followers (Kamali ). He did not want other people to misinterpret his words or summarize them.
So, Hadith are not recorded in Quran; more likely, they are regarded as its supplement. Unlike Quran, these texts do not have the same level of authority. In many cases, they were not properly documented. Thus, scholars attempted to develop a set of methods for assessing various Hadiths. This is the main problems that people should bear in mind when speaking about Hadith.
Lack of evidence is one of the reasons why Islamic scholars question the validity and authenticity of Hadith. These researchers employ different methods to determine whether a certain statement or argument can be attributed to the Prophet. In particular, they look at how many people mention a certain Hadith and how they learned about it (Campo 280).
If there are more witnesses, it is more likely that this saying can be attributed to Muhammad. This is one of the methods that Islamic scholars apply. Additionally, they pay close attention to the credibility of the Hadith transmitter. Provided that the reputation of the transmitter was tarnished in any way, his/her testimony can no longer be regarded as valid (Ramadan 12). Additionally, the credibility of the person can be questioned, if he/she refers to unreliable testimony.
Researchers distinguish several types of Hadith, namely the actions of the Prophet, the information of about his personality, his own words, and his tacit approvals or disapprovals (Ramadan 12). Each of them is closely scrutinized before being accepted. Thus, one can say that there are certain standards that a Hadith has to reach certain standards in order to be accepted.
It should be noted that the study of Hadith can be dated back to 632 of the Common Era, since this was the year when Muhammad died. Since that time, various followers of the Prophet began to dispute his legacy (Nigosian 18). In part, the history of Hadith is closely related to the political history of Islam, especially the split between Sunni and Shia Muslims.
This is why there are Sunni and Shia collections of Hadith. This division still exists in contemporary Islam and it can even lead to violent conflict. Thus, this discipline can throw light on the contemporary conflicts existing in the Muslim community.
One should bear in mind that the study of Hadith should not be reduced only to religious aspects. This research is of great importance to Islamic jurisprudence (Nigosian 18). In some cases, legal scholars in Muslim countries refer to various Hadith in order to evaluate the ethical aspects of a certain actions or social phenomenon. So, the sayings that are attributed to Muhammad can have significant implications for contemporary society (Nigosian 18). This is why their importance should not be disregarded.
Apart from that, it is important to remember that the study of Hadith is of great relevance to contemporary Western historians, political scientists and religious scholars who attempt to better understand various aspects of Islamic faith and different disputes within the Muslim community. This knowledge can help understand the political life of many Muslim countries. Thus, one should not suppose that the study of Hadith is of great interest only to Islamic scholars.
Overall, this discussion indicates that the study of Hadith still plays an important role for the life of Muslim people. By evaluating different sources, Islamic scholars can throw a new light on the personality of Muhammad, his actions, beliefs and attitudes.
The use of different methods enables them determine whether a certain saying, action, or argument can really be ascribed to the Prophet Muhammad. Hadith are vital for understanding the life of contemporary Muslim people. This is one of the key issues that one can identify.
Works Cited
Campo, Juan. Encyclopedia of Islam, New York: Infobase Publishing, 2009. Print.
Kamali, Mohammad. A Textbook of Hadith Studies, London: Consortium Book Sales & Dis, 2005. Print.
Nigosian, Solomon. Islam: Its History, Teaching, and Practices, New York: Indiana University Press, 2004. Print.
Ramadan, Hisham. Understanding Islamic Law: From Classical to Contemporary, London: Rowman Altamira, 2006. Print.
Footnotes
- Singular and plural forms of this word coincide