Validation and Criticism of the Functions of the Ḥadīth Afḍal A’māl Aḥmazuha in the Sources of the Two Sects

The ḥadīth Afḍal A’māl Aḥmazuha (the best deeds are the hardest) indicates more reward for actions that are associated with more hardship. This ḥadīth, which was first mentioned in some Sunni sources in the second century and gradually mentioned by some Shia sources, is basically without a chain of transmission and has not been mentioned in any of the reliable narrative sources and ḥadīth societies of the two sects. Some sources of the narratives attributed it to Ibn Abbas. Regardless of the weakness of the document, this narrative is accompanied by challenges in terms of content and when presenting it to the Qur'an, authentic ḥadīths and reason. The Qur'an emphasizes the qualitative criterion of "goodness" and some authentic ḥadīths recommend adopting the legitimate path which is easier. Despite the weakness of documents and the lack of narrators, this ḥadīth has had a significant impact in theological and especially jurisprudential sources and it has been cited repeatedly. On the other hand, some theologians and jurists have criticized it. These criticisms are sometimes based on narratives that confirm the opinion of jurisprudence against what is documented in the said ḥadīth, and sometimes it is important to emphasize this point that when there is a legitimate and easier way to do an action, imposing difficulty requires a narrative or rational reason, and these reasons do not exist. On the other hand, the intention of the agent and the effect that the action has on a person's life is the criterion of the virtue of the action and should not be ignored. The present research, using library sources and with a descriptive-analytical method and a critical approach, after conducting a documentary and content criticism of the aforementioned ḥadīth, has investigated and criticized it by stating examples of the use of this ḥadīth in various religious sciences.