The Science of Hadith Between Divinity and Humanity

Abstract

The endeavors of attributing a religious and divine character to the Science of Hadith appeared in two ways: 1) Hadith scholars (muhaddithun) tried to base their studies and technical terms on Qur'anic and Prophetic texts, 2) Hadith scholars considered their profession a religious duty and worship. This perception suggests that the profession of Hadith scholars was sacred, divine, dogma, and unchangeable, which meant limiting the subject of knowledge and science to God and the Prophet Muhammad. However, the fact is that the Science of Hadith and its terms were coined by man as a result of individual or social necessities and historical conditions. So, one should talk about historicity in the Science of Hadith, not about dogmatism.