A Study of the Role of the Zendiqs (Heretics) in the Fabrication of Hadith

One of the major concerns of the scholars of hadith is the important question of fabricating and inventing hadith. Of the reasons and motives behind fabricating hadith different views have been expressed. “Freethinking” as one of the destructive and influential movements in Islam has been the centre of attraction for the students of hadith. Nevertheless, the terms free thinking and free thinkers show that these two terms in Islamic texts have been used to reflect different meanings. In some cases it is used mainly for the followers of Iranian religions, such as Manicheans, in some other cases it is used in a general sense for the followers of the intellectual, philosophical, theological, sectarian, political and cultural schools, and in others for those who oppose Islam. In this article, besides explaining the intention of the scholars of hadith of the terms free thinking and free thinkers, the most important aims of the free thinkers in inventing and fabricating hadith are discussed.