Between the criticism of hadits and hadits probativeness

Every Muslims believe that the Qur`an is historically authoritative as it had been gathered and written in prophetical period. It was also transmitted in mutawâtir method (handed down from generation to generation). Conversely, Hadîts (a collection of the traditions relating to the sayings and deeds of the Prophet Muhammad) was not completely written in prophetical period. Hence, the ulamâ’ (Islamic scholars) are in attempts to study Hadîts and its transmission chains to decide its validity through Hadîts transmission criticism. This article purposes on discussing this matter in order to provide a comprehension on meanings and the requirements of criticism on Hadîts and its relation toward its validity test. The validity of Hadîts depends not only on its existence but also upon historical investigation and methodological approach. Personal competence and intellectual quality of a Hadîts narrator take important role in deciding the acceptance of a Hadîts. For this reason, criticism of Hadîts not only aims at evaluating and identifying the validity of a Hadîts but also accommodates its usefulness as the secondary source of Islamic law.