examining methods of critique of ḥadīth in ibn abī al-ḥadīd’s sharḥ-i nahj al-balāgha

ibn abī al-ḥadīd, as one of the commentators of nahj al-balāgha has tried in his commentaries to take into consideration one of the important principles of fiqh al-ḥadīth, i.e. critique of tradition. having examined the critical approach of the commentator in his writings as well as his pivotal ijtihād (legal reasoning) in his treating traditions, the writer of this article has studied the methods and criteria of ḥadīth critique including critique of the sanad and text. among the criteria of critique of text for the commentators are included critique on the basis of the verses of the qur’ān and its non-conflict with the qur’ān, critique of ḥadīth on the basis of sunna and other traditions, the proven history, intellect, convention, and context of tradition. one of the most important criteria of the commentator in accepting the personality and adoption of ḥadīth from the transmitter is the lack of malice and spite against imam ‘alī (a.s.), as well as the examination of its sanad. if the transmitter lacks this important feature, the traditions related by him are not acceptable by ibn abī al-ḥadīd. he states the controversial and conflicting traditions, and based on his specific reasons, alternatively takes one position toward controversial traditions and another position toward conflicting traditions. reference of a tradition to his reliable shī‘ī and sunnī masters and inquiry from them is one of the criteria that he would make use of when he reaches a deadlock.