A Critical Examination of the Perspectives of Muhaddithīn and Orientalists on the History of the Compilation of the Prophetic Sunnah

چکیده

 The compilation of the Prophetic Sunnah represents a foundational subject in Hadith studies, receiving continuous attention from both Muhaddithīn and Western orientalists. Muhaddithīn, employing rigorous methodologies such as al-jarh wa al-ta‘dil , isnād, and meticulous accuracy in narration, argue that the Sunnah was safeguarded and transmitted orally and in written form from the earliest days of Islam. In contrast, many orientalists, through historical-critical methods, claim that systematic Hadith compilation emerged primarily in the second and third centuries AH under the influence of prevailing socio-political contexts. This study adopts an analytical-comparative approach to examine these perspectives, aiming to shed light on the evidences and arguments of both sides. The findings demonstrate that the position of Muhaddithīn, grounded in authentic sources, methodological precision, and credible historical evidence, provides a more solid scholarly and religious foundation. Conversely, the orientalist viewpoint often relies on speculative historical hypotheses and Western presuppositions. The study concludes that a balanced and accurate understanding of the history of Sunnah compilation necessitates combining the methodological rigor of Muhaddithīn with fair and objective historical analysis, thereby preventing extremism or reductionism in interpretation. Keywords: Prophetic Sunnah, Hadith compilation, Muslim hadith scholars, orientalists, Islamic studies.