The Status of Content Criticism in Authentication of the Shi a Hadith

The examination of the method of authenticating the Hadith dates back to the history of Hadith itself. Authenticating the Hadith was common among Shiites in different periods of time. Content criticism of the texts, attributed to Shiite Imams, was the criterion for authenticating the Hadith in the time of Imams and previous Shiite scholars. In this research, the factors of authentication approach, based on content criticism of teachings, attributed to Imams and their consequences, are examined and it will be emphasized that it was the criterion of antecedent Islamic scholars for verification or rejection of traditions attributed to the Imams. The approach of Shiite scholars to comprehend the traditions and to retain them, the status of assurance in authentication of Hadith and examination of the effective factors in presentation of traditions has an important role in this status. The difference of beliefs and Al-As-haab’s (companions’) talent capacity, the emergence of Ghuluw (extremism) and the environment of Taqiyya (religious reservation) in Shiite society can be considered as the most important factors of this approach. Revision of this method is important, because of the fact that it was the criterion of Shiite traditionalists to transmit traditions and to use them in their books, and also to criticize other narrators of Hadith.