Role of theological belief in evaluation and comprehension of hadith: A case study of confrontation of Qurṭubī with the Hadith of Manzilah (tradition of the rank)

Qurṭubī's method in evaluation of the Hadith of Manzilayh (Tradition of
the Rank) suffers from certain harms (i.e. methodological problems). While the hadith enjoys certainty of issuance and simple words and phrases, vastness and plethora of these harms make one assume that Qurṭubī has had doctrinal premise to his comprehension of hadith (fiqh al-hadith). This proposition is strengthened if one understands that he has avoided searching the paths of issuance of this hadith and hence has prevented the formation of hadith family. Having insisted on exclusiveness of issuance of the hadith of Manzilayh to a particular trend, he has totally ignored a massive volume of supporting documents that have played role in understanding the purpose of this hadith. In addition, the dogmatism in advance with regard to a meaning opposite to the hadith, and hurriedness in understanding the phrases and purpose of this report, have given us a depiction of this hadith that instead of compatibility with the positions of its issuance, and its conformity with the text and its meaning is merely similar to the theological premises of Qurṭubī and meets his theological needs.