An Approach to Foundations of Understanding Hadith: Case study of Methods to Discover Foundations of Understanding Hadith

The hadith scholars have always presented their understanding and documents of hadith through applying the rules of understanding. However, they have not expounded their foundations of understanding. Since the scholarship on “methods of discovering the foundations of Hadith understanding” is not available, this study applies the descriptive-analytical method to present the methods of discovering the foundations of Hadith understanding through the works of Hadith scholars, Hadith researchers, and Hadith citators. These methods are as follows: the researcher’s reference to his foundation, concern, and reflection of understanding the hadith, attention to the researcher’s means, attention to the researcher’s decisions and documents, attention to and concern for the researcher’s explanation and interpretation of the hadith, attention to the behavior and language of the person who refers to the hadith, and familiarity with the sects' opinions and beliefs by referring to the books of nations (milal) and sects (nihal).