ABSTRACT

Name : Amir Mahmud

Student Reg. No. : 80100316010
Study Prog./Conc. : Education and Training/Hadith
Science
Dissertation Title : A Reconstruction of the Matn
Validity Principles and Its
Implications on H{adi>s\ Riwa>yah bi al-
Ma‘na>
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Most of older generations of hadith experts did not
formulate the indicators of each sya>z\ and‘illah in their
publications. Even though more recent experts started listing
some indicators that could rectify the validity of the Matn of a
hadith, they did not particularly categorise those indicators into
sya>z\ and‘illah. It is also true that some hadith experts have
categorised the indicators of Matn validity rectifier into sya>z\
and‘illah categories, but there have been some confusions
between the two concepts which causes misplacement of the
indicators. The confusing indicators of sya>z \and‘illah have laid
a foundation to this research to investigate the urgency of
reconstruction of the Matn validity principles. It focuses on
examining the notion of Matn validity and its benchmark to
make it a standard principle with high accuracy and
effectiveness. The textual (Matn) validity of a hadithis
specifically a crucial technique for checking whether a Hadith is
authentically preserved from Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
This research uses qualitative approach and employs
library research design by analysing existing data and verifying
them in accordance with related variables. The data were
analysed using content analysis and verificative technique, then
presented descriptively. To reconstruct the principles of defining
the Matn validity, this research uses multidisciplinary
approaches such as the science of hadith together with history
and linguistics, as well as aqliyah, h}issiyahand intuition as the
foundation of analysis. The reconstruction of Matn validity
principles in this research refers to the theory of textuality while
the identification refers to the sinad cum matan.
The findings of this research suggest that the standard
principle of sahihmatn should avoid sya>z\ and ‘illah. One of the
research finding also indicates some indicators of sya>z\
including some conflicting values with Quran and other sahih
hadiths, contradicting with valid historical facts, and contrasting
with common sense in ijma>‘manner. Another finding discovers
the problems in the jumbled indicators (al-qalb) between the two
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indicators: sya>z\ and ‘illah. Among the problems are insertions
(idra>j), additions (ziya>dah) and letter pronunciation changes
(al-tah}ri>f) that belong to ‘illah category. In addition to the two
above-mentioned aspects identified in sya>z\ and ‘illah
categories, the last finding shows that the intertextual analysis
(muna>sabah) improves the accuracy of matn principles.
In conclusion, this research discusses the urgency of
reconstructing the principles of hadith matn validity. The findings
of this research will inform people about the exclusivity in
accepting and exercising hadiths in theological context or Fiqh
Madhhad studies. To avoid the exclusivity in accepting and
exercising hadiths, one can examine the hadiths that appear
literally and substantially distinctive using intertextual analysis
(muna>sabah).