The Reflection of the Polemics between Ahl al-Hadith and al-Shi`ah on the Science of al-Jarh wa-al-ta`dil, Studies of the Relevant Period, and Social / Human Relation

Abstract

After the demise of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), internal conflicts, wars, and conquests in the Islamic world led to the division of the Islamic society into different factions. Each faction in this process produced its own set of religiously motivated doctrines, which gradually evolved into ideologies. The teachings generated by the factions had a profound impact on all areas of life, with a mentality of bigotry. Although it is controversial when it emerged as a political faction, al-Shi'ah is one of the religious/doctrinal/political factions that emerged after the passing of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). It, which is a term that refers to all of the different factions that can be defined as those who consider `Ali and his descendants as divine leaders appointed by God, is an enduring doctrinal and theological/jurisprudential sect to this day. Three main schools of Shiism, which split into many factions, are ImamiyyaIsnaashariyya, Isma'iliyya and Zaydiyya branches. al-Ja`fariyah is a sect that represents the jurisprudential aspect of Imamiyya Shia. With roots dating back to a period close to the death of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), al-Shi'ah has consistently developed its own doctrine, embracing a divine source and an imamate-centered understanding of religion. In its historical development, in the field of basic Islamic sciences such as theology, hadith, exegesis, and Islamic history, and especially in theological issues, it has taken place against the Ahl al-Hadith and thus against the Ahl al-Sunnah. al-Shi'ah's Imamiyya-Isnaashariyya faction, which embraces Imamate-centered hadith and hadith methodology, with its imamate-centered understanding of hadith and its principles, engaged in numerous debates with the opposing views of the followers of hadith. These debates focused on doctrinal differences, hadith narrations, leadership issues, and the methodologies of exegesis and hadith. Especially in the first three centuries, Imamiyya-Isnaashariyya and al-Ja`fariyah branches of al-Shi'ah, engaged in intense polemics with the followers of hadith, developing its own doctrine on the mentioned subjects and beginning to articulate its interpretations based on the religious texts that form the foundations of Islamic sciences. In doing so, alShi'ah sought solid religious justifications to prove the correctness of its ideas and ideologies. This involved at times interpreting verses with strained interpretations, disconnecting hadiths from their contexts, and even fabricating hadiths in the name of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The Ahl al-Hadith, who were in opposition to this, took some measures to overrule al-Shi'ah's theological views that contradicted their own teachings. Especially in accepting hadiths, the followers of Hadith established certain principles and criteria, rejecting hadiths that did not conform to this methodology. They classified ideas and beliefs contrary to the Quran and Sunnah under the umbrella of innovation, discarding religious texts and expressions coming from these sources. In contrast, al-Shi'ah criticized the methodology of the followers of Hadith in narrating and interpreting religious texts. Both groups, when producing their works, built the content of their works on supporting their own views and debunking opposing views. They also assessed whether the narrators of religious texts were qualified according to the perspectives of their own sects. Ultimately, these debates remained in the realm of sterile arguments, hindering the pursuit of truth and leading both parties into defensive and accusatory psychologies. This resulted in different evaluations of hadith narrations, sources, and the criticism of narrations between the two sects. The polemics between these two sects did not remain confined to doctrinal issues; these discussions also manifested themselves in human relations and socio-cultural life. Therefore, this study explores how the conflicts and debates between the supporters of hadith and the al-Shi'ah adherents, the two major schools of thought in Islamic intellectual history, have been reflected in the science of criticism and praise (al-Jarh wa-al-ta`dil), written works, and sociocultural and human relations.