Fundamentals of Ḥadīth Interpretation
76
om i.c id am rg gh d.o ad wri hm a da l-m ve .a .ja w w ww w w
An in-depth study and long analysis over the issue have led me to the conclusion that this view of the muḥaddithūn proved disastrous. The deviant views, myths and practices of the Sufis and mystics (ahl-i taṣawwuf) are a product of laxity shown by the muḥaddithūn in this regard. Their acceptance of the weak narratives opened up doors to libraries of weak and unreliable narratives. Such weak reports gave birth to all unfounded religious concepts. People could pick up narratives to support a religious belief they cherished. Thus the “fruits” of the weak narratives did not remain confined to moral and religious improvement. These narratives negatively affected the basic beliefs and fundamental teachings of Islam. This trend, later on, got so current that new practices, beliefs and moral codes were innovated and passed on as part of the religion. The muḥaddithūn belatedly realized the encroachment of the mystics and declared it a great wrong to the religion of God. However, damage had already been done. The state of affair was then beyond correction. The muḥaddithūn met with a pungent response that they had nothing better to do than to engage in backbiting. The activity of jarḥ wa ta‘dīl was merely based on backbiting, a ḥarām act, they were told. The mystics and the Sufis were not bothered in the least by the findings of the muḥaddithūn. The view that the narratives containing directives, sunan and ḥalāl wa ḥarām should be critically analyzed and the narratives on targhīb wa tarhīb may not be rigorously investigated eventually proved wrong, rather poisonous and detrimental. In reality, the laxity shown in accepting weak aḥādīth in certain religious issues resulted in influx of unsound narratives. The books on Sufism are replete with unfounded reports. It is no more a secret that these narratives have disfigured the true religion. It would not be an exaggeration to declare that a parallel concept of the religion has been erected on the mass of fabricated and weak narratives. This concept of the religion finds no basis and support in the practice and teaching of the Prophet (sws) and the rightly guided caliphs. 6.7
Summary
The isnād provides one of the fundamental criteria to help us in deciding the soundness or spuriousness of a ḥadīth. However, it is not the only criterion in this exercise because, in spite of its "All rights of this book are reserved for the publisher and the author. This copy is for reading purpose only. This copy cannot be uploaded on any website except those of the publisher and the author."