The Semantic Shift in the Vocabulary of Hadith Scholars Between Lexical Concepts and Hadith Terminology: A Study of Points of Convergence and Divergence

Abstract

This study traces the semantic shift in Hadith terminology between lexical concepts and technical usage, demonstrating how grasping this relationship prevents methodological errors during critical application.

The study addresses a central problematic: overlooking the areas of convergence and divergence between linguists and Hadith scholars leads researchers—especially non-specialists—into interpretive fallacies and flawed critical judgments. "Employing a comparative, inductive-analytical approach, the research is divided into two applied sections. The first examines 'points of convergence and integration' through the models of al-Shādh, al-Muḍṭarib, and al-Da‘īf. The second investigates 'points of divergence and separation' via the models of al-Munkar (the denounced), al-Gharīb, and al-Ma‘lūl."

The findings reveal that while Hadith terminology maintained flexibility, the critical craft necessitated an epistemological break from lexical usage to set rigorous acceptance criteria. Consequently, the study recommends that non-specialists in Islamic and human sciences isolate the psychological impact of lexical terms and deconstruct semantic overlap to safeguard scholarly research from the pitfalls of preconceived judgments