Fitan Traditions and Apocalyptic Narratives: Comparative Examination of Contemporary Western Approaches

Abstract

This study examines the nature of fitan traditions through a comparative analysis of evaluations within the Islamic scholarly tradition and approaches developed in modern Western academic literature. It begins by exploring how fitan traditions are treated in classical hadith literature, followed by an analysis of their interpretation in modern Western scholarship within the frameworks of historical context, textual formation, and political function. The findings indicate that fitan traditions are closely linked to the political and social crises of early Islamic history. Classical hadith scholars approached these traditions with caution, assessing their reliability primarily through isnad analysis and the evaluation of transmitters. In contrast, modern Western scholarship has tended to interpret these traditions largely in terms of their historical context and political function, revealing significant methodological differences between the two approaches. Another key conclusion is that no single methodological framework is sufficient for analysing fitan traditions. While the methods of isnad and textual criticism developed within the classical science of hadith provide essential tools for understanding the transmission structures of these reports, modern historical and sociological approaches contribute to a deeper understanding of the political and social contexts in which these traditions emerged. A more comprehensive understanding of fitan literature therefore requires the integration of multiple methodological perspectives.