Abstract
The Prophet’s Sunnah stands for what is transmitted as deeds, sayings and approvals of the Prophet (SAW).After the Holy Quran, Sunnah is the second basic source of Islamic teachings and legislation. The development of Hadith Sciences has a unique position in the history of Critical Methodology, as no other personality has this sort of importance to differentiate his correct statements from incorrect. On the other hand, the use of historical criticism and critical methods has dominated much of the religious research undertaken this century in the West. The historical criticism deals with the studies of the scriptural text of Bible, Quran and Hadith as an historical document. It seeks to understand the text in terms of its historical scenario. For this purpose different methods of historical analysis are used at different stages to find the oral traditions behind the text, to determine its written sources, the final editor, and the transmitters of the text. The purpose of this research paper is to examine the applicability of “Historical Critical methodology’’ to the study of Hadith. Furthermore, an evaluation has been made regarding the problems and weaknesses in its use. Likewise, in this study, the viewpoints of different orientalists have been mentioned regarding the historical critical methodology.