Critique to Orientalist Views on Isnad of Hadith

Abstract

This study aims to examine the views of Orientalists on isnad (the chain of narration) of hadith. They have a different perspective from hadith scholars regarding the isnad. According to them, the use of isnad began in the last third of the first Higra century, the isnad emerged long after the text of the hadith, and it is considered an internal phenomenon in the development of Islam. They also claim that the majority of hadith isnads are false. Initially, the isnad appeared in a very simple form, later achieving its perfected form in the second half of the third Higra century. The Orientalists regard the isnad criticism method used by the scholars as weak, which makes the resulting hadiths scientifically unaccountable.

This view of the Orientalists is refuted by hadith scholars, who argue that the isnad of hadith has existed since the time of the Prophet, through the transmission of hadith among the Companions after they received it from him. This tradition continued in the subsequent periods until the hadiths of the Prophet were compiled by the hadith collectors.