علم حدیث اور علم فقہ کا باہمی تعلق اور تقابل

Abstract

Among other sciences of Islam, the science of Ḥadīth (Prophetic tradition) and Fiqh (jurisprudence) are both considered independently recognizable as they have their own books, source materials, subjects, terminologies, principles, experts and their Ṭabaqāṭ (i.e. categories according to the time period and relevant teachers).

Therefore the amalgamation of both sciences is flawed as both are independently recognized and acknowledged. The subject of the science of Ḥadīth is the verification or authentication of the narration while the subject of the science of Fiqh relates to the in depth understanding of the narrations; the former being the field of Muḥaddithīn and the latter being recognized as the field of Fuqahāʾ.

With regards to the verification of a transmission, one should trust primarily the experts of the relevant field i.e. Muḥaddithīn and for the need of reliable interpretation and understanding of such narrations one should trust Fuqahā and should refer to them. This indeed is a moderate approach, because just like for a doctor it is not discrediting to be lacking in engineering skills, in the same way for a Muḥaddith it is not discrediting to be lacking in the understanding or interpretation of a transmission which he himself validated.

A Muḥaddith mainly discusses the plausibility in relation to the verification and reliability of the transmission while a Faqīh discusses the plausibility with regards to the implication or inference of the text of the transmission.