The use of weak hadiths in the fatwas of the High Council of Religious Affairs

Since the early period of the Prophet Muhammad's mission, Muslims would present to him the issues they faced regarding worship, social transactions, and ethics. The Prophet responded to these questions either by waiting for divine revelation or by expressing his own judgment. This practice, which began during the Prophet's lifetime in a question-and-answer format, eventually led to the issuance of fatwas by scholars, the formation of Islamic legal schools, the development of relevant literature, and the establishment of formal fatwa institutions. One such institution is the High Council of Religious Affairs under the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) in Turkey. The Council, consisting of members and experts specialized in Islamic sciences, issues fatwas in response to questions from the public or on issues it considers important. These fatwas are published in books, booklets, and online platforms. In its rulings, the Council adheres to the established principles of Islamic law and often references hadiths alongside verses from the Qur'an, recognizing hadiths as a representation of the Prophet's tradition. According to well-established principles in Islamic theology and jurisprudence, only hadiths classified as authentic or at least reliable are considered acceptable sources. The use of weak hadiths in these fields is generally considered inappropriate. Therefore, the authenticity of the hadiths cited by the Council is of particular importance. To date, no academic study has been found that specifically addresses this issue. This thesis aims to examine the use of hadiths in the book Fatwas of the High Council of Religious Affairs, focusing on the sections related to belief and purification.