AUTHENTICITY OF HADITH AND ORIENTALISTS: A CASE STUDY OF JOSEPH SCHACHT’S THOUGHTS

Abstract

The study about the authenticity of Hadith has been a central subject in both Islamic and Western schools of thought. Throughout the history of orientalism, Joseph Schacht presented influential theories relevant to the origin, development and compilation of Hadith, particularly challenging the historical reliability of Sunnah. This work critically overviews major hypothesis of Schacht’s about the Common Link Theory in the light of primary Islamic sources. The aim of the study is to analyze the validity of Schacht’s theories and to evaluate their influence on Hadith literature. To achieve these purposes, an analytical and comparative research approach has been adopted. The study focuses the methods practiced by Muslim scholars for the protection and validation of Hadith text and chain of narrators. Schacht’s conclusions are mainly based on fabricated material and insufficient knowledge about of the criterion set by Muhaddithin. Evidence from early Hadith works, the science of jarah wa tadil and the continuity of isnad transmission challenges many of his views regarding authenticity of Hadith works. It concludes that in spite of having influence on Western academic thought; Schacht’s theories remain critically weak when observed through the lens of Turath.