Quantitative and qualitative analysis of the historical course of hadiths considered by Muslim mystics

Subject Areas : Journal of History (Tarikh)

jalal usofi enayat ¹ (PhD student in Theology and Islamic Studies, Quran and Hadith Sciences, Hamadan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Hamadan, Iran.)
ali hosein ehteshami ² (Assistant Professor of Quran and Hadith Sciences, Tuyserkan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tuyserkan, Iran.)
mohammad reza freydooni ³ (Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Mysticism, Bu Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran.)

Received: 2021-09-15 Accepted : 2022-01-25 Published : 2023-02-20

Keywords: Islamic Mysticism, History of Hadith, Hadith Studies, Mystical Hadiths,

Abstract :

One of the shortcomings in the subject of hadith and narration is the lack of sufficient information about the historical course of hadiths. Knowledge of the historical evidence of hadiths and whether hadiths existed in Islamic sources in the early centuries can help assess the validity of hadiths. Different Islamic sects have shown special attention to the hadiths of the Infallibles. Among mystics, they have also addressed this issue and in their works, while referring to the hadiths of the Infallibles (AS), they have based their foundations on this basis. Muslim mystics have their own principles in dealing with hadith. The difference between their basis and other Islamic sects has sometimes caused mystics to be attributed to forgery and distortion of hadiths. Paying attention to the historical course of hadiths by mystics with scientific methods can be a way to understand their rules and principles in dealing with hadiths. This research has examined the historical course of seven hadiths considered by Muslim mystics in one hundred and ten mystical sources. An attempt has been made to quantitatively and qualitatively analyze the historical course and frequency of these hadiths using modern research methods. Research findings show that some mystical hadiths were few in number in the early centuries and have been favored by mystics in recent centuries. However, some hadiths have appeared in mystical works since the beginning of Islam.