The Method of Understanding the Practical Intent of Hadith from the Perspective of al-Sha'rani, with Emphasis on Mulla Salih Mazandarani's Commentary

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor. Department of Quranic and Hadith Studies. University of Tehran. Tehran. Iran

2 Graduate with a Master's degree. Department of Quranic and Hadith Studies. University of Tehran. Tehran.Iran

Abstract

The Application of Hadiths Depends on Their Correct and Precise Understanding.

Understanding hadiths is often a complex, multi-layered process that ranges from the speaker’s practical intent (murād isti‘mālī) to their serious intent (murād jiddī). Key steps in comprehending the practical intent include analyzing the words used in the hadith text ("lexical understanding" or fahm mufradāt) and clarifying their interconnections ("syntactic understanding" or fahm tarkībāt). Over the centuries, Imami scholars and traditionists (muḥaddithūn) have strived to systematically and logically navigate these stages of textual comprehension. Allamah al-Sha‘rānī, a prominent contemporary hadith scholar, has made significant contributions in this field. This research seeks to identify his practical methodologies for discerning the practical intent of hadiths by examining his annotations (ta‘līqāt) on Mullā Ṣāliḥ Māzandarānī’s commentary on Uṣūl al-Kāfī. Al-Sha‘rānī employs diverse techniques to arrive at the practical intent, including: 1. Lexical Analysis (Fahm Mufradāt): Morphological (ṣarf) and lexical (lugha) studies, Imitative (taqlīdī) and reasoned (ijtihādī) examination of terms (e.g., Persian translations), Distinguishing literal (ḥaqīqī) and technical (iṣṭilāḥī) meanings, Deriving jurisprudential rulings (istinbāṭ al-ḥukm al-shar‘ī); 2. Syntactic Analysis (Fahm Tarkībāt): Grammatical parsing (i‘rāb), Figurative usages (majāz), Technical phrasal constructions (tarkībāt iṣṭilāḥiyya).

Keywords

Hadith Research

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 18 November 2025

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