حدیثی کتب میں اصول نقد حدیث کا اطلاق: امام ابو حنیفہؒ اور امام مالکؒ ؒ کے حدیثی معیارات کا تجزیاتی مطالعہ

Application of the Principles of Hadith Criticism in Hadith Literature: An Analytical Study of the Hadith Standards of Imam Abu Hanifa and Imam Malik

Abstract

This research explores the application of the principles of Hadith criticism (Usul al-Naqd al-Hadith) within the classical Hadith literature, focusing specifically on the analytical comparison between the Hadith standards of Imam Abu Hanifa and Imam Malik. Both Imams, as founders of two major schools of Islamic jurisprudence, played a pivotal role in defining the criteria for the acceptance and rejection of Hadith. The study highlights how their methodological approaches were rooted in their respective epistemological frameworks, the socio-religious contexts of their time, and their interactions with the narrators and transmitters of Hadith. By examining their standards of isnad (chain of transmission) and matn (textual content) criticism, the research identifies key differences in their approaches toward solitary reports (ahad), the reliability of narrators, and the harmony between Hadith and established legal principles. Furthermore, it investigates how these methodologies influenced the compilation, authentication, and application of Hadith in later jurisprudential developments. The study concludes that while both Imams upheld the sanctity of Hadith, their nuanced criteria reflect a balanced integration of rational evaluation and textual authenticity — contributing to the diversity and richness of Islamic legal thought.