An Investigation of Arda Traditions

Those traditions which recognize the Holy Quran as a criterion for distinguishing the true traditions from the false ones (whether fabricated or weak) are classified into two groups: 1- Those which emphasize on verification of hadith texts with the aid of the Holy Quran. This group regards the Holy Quran as the distinguishing criteria، whether there is a conflict between them or not. 2- Those which regard congruency with the Holy Quran as the preferred aspect when two hadiths are in conflict، that is، in case of conflict between two hadiths with the same reliability; the hadith which is congruent with the Holy Quran is the preferred one. These hadiths are discussed in usul books under the topic of Ta`aadul wa Trajih. The author of the present paper، while mentioning the general and particular traditions in this regard، investigates the views of Shiite and Sunni scholars about them and concludes that: 1- In spite of the consensus of Shiite scholars on the reliability of traditions of `arda، some Sunni scholars considered them as fabricated traditions. 2- The Criterion for these hadiths is their incongruency with the Quran not lack of congruency. 3- Incongruency of hadith with the Quran is the incongruency of universal heterogeneousness. 4- Incongruency is the incongruency with clear terms of the Holy Quran not its literal meaning.