An Approach to Distinguishing Temporal and Non-Temporal Hadiths

Among the hadith sciences, Fiqh al-Hadith (Comprehending Hadith) ranks a high position. Accordingly, hadith scholars strived to understand hadith in a methodical way by applying the rules of understanding. On the other, it has been always affected by some problems. “Generalization” or conveying a hadith concept on a determined person, group, time and place to other people, groups, times and places is a problem that sometimes threatens the main purpose of the speaker’s statement. This article seeks to introduce ways of distinguishing the ungeneralizable hadith propositions from generalizable ones. It also will examine the causes of generalizability. Considering the cause of issuing hadiths, the Infallibles’ emphases, the ineffectiveness of behavior in another time, the lack of examples in today’s conditions, the Prophet and the Imam as speakers, and the addressee of hadiths, one can distinguish between generalizable and ungeneralizable hadith propositions.