Menguak Hakikat, Klasifikasi, dan Otoritas Hadits Dhaif dalam Pilar-Pilar Ibadah serta Akidah Islam

Abstract

Weak (dhaif) hadiths often become a subject of debate in religious practices, especially concerning their validity in acts of worship and Islamic creed. This study aims to explore the essence, classification, and authority of weak hadiths within the normative Islamic structure using a qualitative-descriptive approach based on library research. Data were collected from classical and contemporary Islamic texts on hadith sciences and analyzed based on key themes: the nature of weakness in hadiths, classifications based on chain of transmission and narrators, and their authority in religious worship and creed. The findings show that weak hadiths should not serve as primary references in legal rulings, obligatory worship, or matters of creed due to their weak authenticity. However, those with minor weaknesses may be utilized in the context of virtuous deeds (fadhā’il al-a‘māl). Understanding these classifications is essential for preserving the authenticity of Islamic practice. Moreover, religious authority regarding hadiths—especially weak ones—is continually reproduced and maintained by traditional Islamic institutions such as pesantren, which rely on classical texts as authoritative references. Therefore, the use of weak hadiths requires caution and contextual awareness to ensure alignment with the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW).