The Dating of the Hadith "I Have Been Given the Book and Many Other Truths Similar to It"Based on the Method of Isnad – cum- matn Analysis

The last two decades of the twentieth century are accompanied by the beginning of methodical studies in the understanding of hadith with the method of the isnad – cum- matn analysis in the West. Thus, explaining the method of isnad – cum- matn analysis scientifically, the present study seeks to see which themes constitute the centrality of the hadith "I have been given the Book and many other truths similar to it" according to the teachings of the Prophet. Therefore, after presenting the theories in the interpretation of this hadith, the procedure of changes in this narration and discovering its main meaning is investigated by a descriptive and analytical method. The isnad – cum- matn investigation of this narration shows that the content of the expressive revelation, as the most frequent theme in the interpretation of this hadith, is not a periodical requirement, but rather indicates the guidance of the Prophet (PBUH) about the necessity of paying attention to expressive revelation. Moreover, after isnad – cum- matn examination of five evident examples of this hadith in narrative societies, despite its fame, this hadith cannot be considered as a comprehensive and correct reason for considering the tradition (Sunnah) as revelation.