The Thought of Ibn Hajar Al-'Asqalani on Hadith Science

Abstract

This paper aims to comprehensively analyze the monumental thought and contributions of Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani (773–852 AH) in the field of hadith science, covering three main domains: musthalah al-hadith (hadith terminology), syarah hadith (hadith commentary), and jarh wa ta'dil (narrator criticism). The method used is qualitative library research, employing descriptive-analytical analysis of primary works such as Fath al-Bari, Nukhbat al-Fikar, and Taqrib al-Tahdzib. The findings show that in musthalah al-hadith, Ibn Hajar successfully systematized hadith classification through a deductive-hierarchical framework in Nukhbat al-Fikar. In the field of commentary, his masterwork Fath al-Bari stands as the culmination of the hadith commentary tradition, integrating multidisciplinary approaches such as history, linguistics, and jurisprudence. In jarh wa ta'dil, his contribution is evident in the standardization of twelve levels (maratib) of narrator evaluation, providing an objective standard for chain-of-transmission criticism. This paper concludes that Ibn Hajar's intellectual dedication cemented his position as Amir al-Mu'minin fi al-Hadits (Commander of the Faithful in Hadith), whose scholarly legacy remains a standard reference in contemporary hadith studies worldwide.