The phenomenon of naration by meaning from the perspective of hadith criticism

This study re-examines narration by meaning— a fundamental issue in Hadith—within the classical period through an applied approach rather than modern theoretical generalizations. Treating it mainly as a methodological abstraction while neglecting practice has opened a gap between theory and historical reality. Since the late 19th century, its framing as a challenge to hadith evidential value defines the research problem. The thesis clarifies the classical boundaries of narration by meaning, how transgressions triggered criticism, and the practical implications of the principle of "preserving the meaning." Although widely discussed, the concept remains ambiguous in definition and scope; the study therefore reassesses its definition, scope, and historical transformation. Beyond narrator-centered history, it offers an original reading by analyzing narration texts and proposing a conceptual framework. Using data from the Tabiʿin onward, it evaluates transmitters' styles and texts, concretizing forms and transformations of the practice. Prior literature often overlooks the evolution of criticism itself; to address this, the study investigates narration by meaning's "natural" and "criticizable" boundaries. Hadith scholars activated critique when narration by meaning affected legal rulings, doctrinal meaning, narrative integrity, or source. The study also examines how the issue became salient in modern contexts and the range of positions advanced. Overall, it treats narration by meaning holistically across its historical development, the classical principles of the first four centuries, and post-19th-century critical approaches, offering a new direction in both content and method through applied sampling and periodic reading.