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The last, and very important, scrutiny is accompanied by the general analysis of a tradition. In this scrutiny the tradition is analyzed in the light of other relevant material available on the subject. The tradition is examined from different angles: whether the reported saying or event is at all possible; whether the reported event conforms to the established historical events; whether its text can be held as truly attributed to the Holy Prophet (SAWS); whether the chain of narrators is genuine etc.  Read more... (219 words, estimated 53 secs reading time)

It is well-known that no report, in the science of hadith, is accepted unless it gives the full chain of narrators upto the Holy Prophet (SAWS). Each narrator from this chain is first scrutinized on the touch-stone of his credibility as discussed above. But even if all the narrators of a chain are found to be reliable, it is not enough to hold the tradition as authentic. It must be proved that the chain is constant and no narrator has been missed in between. If it is found that some narrator has been missed at any stage, the tradition is held to be unreliable. To ensure the constancy of the chain, it is necessary to know about each narrator whether it is possible for him historically to meet the person from whom he claims to hear the tradition.  Read more... (544 words, estimated 2:11 mins reading time)

The first and foremost test of the correctness of a hadith relates to the credibility of its narrators. This scrutiny is carried out on two scores: firstly, examination of the integrity and honesty of a narrator, and secondly, examination of his memory power.  Read more... (768 words, estimated 3:04 mins reading time)