The Development of the Historical Criticism Approach in "Contemporary Western Studies" | ||
| هرمس | ||
| Article 6, Volume 12, Issue 3 - Serial Number 45, July 2023, Pages 35-62 PDF (899.56 K) | ||
| Document Type: المقالة الأصلية | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/herms.2023.371294 | ||
| Author | ||
| Mohamed Haggag | ||
| Faculty of languages and translation, Al-Azhar University | ||
| Abstract | ||
| This paper explores the historical and methodological development of Western academic studies on hadith, tracing its roots from the seventeenth century to the present. It examines how European interest in hadith evolved alongside economic, social, and intellectual advancements, as well as the expansion of colonialism, which piqued curiosity about other cultures, including Islamic civilization. By applying historical criticism theory, Western scholars have significantly contributed to the understanding of hadith and the life of the Prophet Muhammad. The methodology section delves into the historical criticism approach, detailing its origins and objectives. It differentiates between external criticism, which focuses on verifying the authenticity of documents, and internal criticism, which analyzes the meaning and content of texts. The application of these methods to hadith studies has transformed the field, allowing for more nuanced evaluations of the reliability and authenticity of hadith literature.The paper also categorizes the stages of Western criticism of early Islamic history into four phases: Early Orientalists, Philo-Islamic Apology, Revisionist Approach, and Western Revaluation. Each stage reflects different attitudes and methodologies towards hadith, from the skepticism of early Orientalists to the more balanced and contextualized analyses of modern scholars. In conclusion, the paper highlights the dynamic evolution of Western hadith studies, emphasizing the impact of historical criticism in shaping contemporary understandings of Islamic texts. By rigorously applying both external and internal criticism, Western scholars have uncovered complex layers of historical development within hadith literature; contributing to a more comprehensive and accurate portrayal of early Islamic history. This ongoing scholarly endeavor underscores the importance of methodological rigor and critical analysis in the study of religious texts. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Hadith Studies; Historical Criticism; Orientalism; Islamic Texts; Western Scholarship | ||
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