The Criteria of Allameh Majlisi's Hadith Criticism in Revising Fabricated Hadiths in Bihar al-Anwar

The entry of fabricated hadiths into the collection of narrations from the Infallibles (a.s.) and the eminent Companions began from the time of the Prophet of Islam (p.b.u.h.). The Infallibles (a.s.) and subsequently the Islamic scholars sought to refine and purify the prophetic hadiths from these hadiths, and many books were written and various researches were conducted in recognizing false hadiths, forgers and the factors and motives of their forgery. Among the Shiite authors, Allameh Majlisi in his meritorious book, Bihar al-Anwar, has examined fabricated hadiths, considering the volume of the book, and has achieved remarkable success in this field by introducing the criteria for evaluating fabricated hadiths and the motives of fabrication and presenting extensive scientific discussions. Using the content analysis method, the present study has extracted the methods and criteria for distinguishing fabricated hadiths from sound hadiths in Bihar al-Anwar. It has further examined the position and method of Allameh Majlisi in dealing with fabricated hadiths and has presented some examples of his techniques in identifying fabricated hadiths like the holy Quran, finding contradictions between them and the frequently narrated hadiths, sunnah, checking them against intellect, accusing the narrator of exaggeration in introducing documents and paying attention to taqiyyah (a precautionary dissimulation or denial of religious belief and practice in the face of persecution) and having enmity with Ahl al-Bayt.