The role of ijtihad on determining of the authenticity of hadith narrations

In this thesis, we aim to investigate the role of ijtihad on determining of the authenticity (soundness) of hadith narrations. In this regard, we outline how the criteria in the evaluation of the hadiths used by muhaddithun and fuqhea are based on ijtihad and how this ijtihad on scholars' different assessments on hadiths can change the interpretation of the meaning of the hadiths. It is aimed to explain why the classification of the same narration can be so different ranging among the verdicts of sahih (authentic, sound), hasan (good), da'if (weak) and mawḍūʿ(fabricated) hadiths. This study is composed of three chapters as well as an introduction section. In the introduction part, the topic, aim, resources, and design of the thesis have been defined. In the first chapter, the concept related to the subject and explanations about this concept are given. In the second chapter of the study, the view of Ibn al-Salah in the context of the debates on whether the door of ijtihad is open in the historical process has been discussed, and the approaches of scholars to his view are summarized in chronological order. In addition, the effect of ijtihad on the formation of hadith methodology and cerh-ta'dil science, which plays an active role in determining the soundness of hadiths, especially according to hadith scholars, is explained. In the third chapter, the conditions of the sahih (sound) hadith according to the muḥaddithūn and jurists and some alternative methods that lead the jurists to accept weak hadiths as authentic are given. In addition, in this chapter, some examples that the narrations by scholars belonging to the same scientific discipline are subject to different provisions have been mentioned. In conclusion from the data presented here, the critical role of ijtihad in determining the soundness of hadiths have been revealed. Our findings and understandings are given at the end.