Review of Hakem Nayshābūrī’s Method in Verifying ‎and Weakening Hadith: Based on the Hadiths of the ‎Book “Al-Mustadrak ‘Ala al-Ṣaḥīḥayn‎

Interacting with hadiths, authenticating and weakening of narrators, and describing some hadith terms such as ṣaḥīḥ, ḥasan, shādh, mursal, muwqūf, etc. Hakem Nayshābūrī differs from others: He verifies some hadiths that are not authentic according to other traditionists, and even according to his own bases in his other books such as ma'rifat ‘Ulūm al-Hadith. Accordingly, he was accused of being mutasāhil (lenient in hadith). This paper, based on descriptive-analytical method, attempts to firstly reveal his opinions on hadiths of Ṣaḥīḥ, Ḥasan, Ḍa'īf, Mawqūf, Mursal, Shādh, Zīyādāt al-Thiqah, citing from a heretic narrator, report of sanad and text of narrations, Jarḥ and Ta'dīl. Secondly, it compares Hakem’s views and method to other traditionists. Thirdly, it shows how much Hakem, in his al-Mustadrak, adhered to his bases. It is intended to reveal his bases and views, as well as his own adherence to them. As such, the basic features of Hakem’s hadith school would be detected. Based on the reviews and comparisons, it can be said that it is not acceptable to ascribe tasāhul to Hakem’s method in verifying hadiths of Mustadrak, justified by some evidences including his old age, memory weakness, lack of time to edit his book. Also, it is notable that to use his hadiths in Mustadrak, one must review both sanad and text.