What does Western scholarship think about Hadith?

In a Nutshell: Western scholarship on hadith (sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad) has a long history and has contributed significantly to our understanding of the development of Islamic law and doctrine. Western scholars have approached the study of hadith from a variety of perspectives, including historical, sociological, and textual analysis. Detailed Points: One of the major contributions of Western scholarship on hadith has been the development of methods for evaluating the authenticity and reliability of hadith. Scholars such as Joseph Schacht and Ignaz Goldziher have proposed criteria for evaluating the chain of transmission (isnad) of hadith and the credibility of its narrators. Western scholarship has also contributed to our understanding of the process of collecting and transmitting hadith. Scholars such as Alfred Guillaume and John Wansbrough have studied the role of hadith in the early Islamic community and the process of collecting and transmitting hadith through the oral tradition. Western scholarship has also examined the role of hadith in the development of Islamic law and doctrine. Scholars such as Wael Hallaq and Joseph Schacht have studied the relationship between hadith and the Qur'an and the role of hadith in the development of Islamic legal theory. Western scholarship has also explored the relationship between hadith and the broader social and cultural context of the early Islamic community. Scholars such as Scott Kugle and Yohanan Friedmann have examined the role of hadith in shaping and reflecting the values and beliefs of the early Muslim community. Some Western scholars have also focused on the role of hadith in contemporary Muslim societies and the way in which hadith are used to support various interpretations of Islamic law and doctrine. Scholars such as Timothy Winter and Mahmoud Ayoub have studied the use of hadith in contemporary Islamic legal systems and the way in which hadith are used to support various interpretations of Islamic law and doctrine.