Principles of Hadith
Overview:
Studying the principles of hadith classification and terminology is a major component of hadith studies This module covers the types of chains of transmission (asanid), types of acceptable narrations (maqbul) and the types of rejected narrations (mardud).
About the text:
Imam ibn Hajar al-Asqalani’s Nukhbatul Fikr is a primary text that is commonly used to introduce an individual to the Science of Hadith (Ulum al-Hadith) and the major terminology (Mustalah) associated with it. In effect it is a summary of the larger works preceding his time on how to understand the detailed rudiments to this nomenclature and its systematic application.
About the Author:
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalānī was a medieval Shafiite Sunni Muslim scholar of Islam whose life work constitutes the final summation of the science of hadith. Being a scholar well vast in various fields, he authored over fifty great works on Quran Exegesis, poetry, hadith, history and fiqh on Shafi’i jurisprudence which all flourished during his lifetime. His most famous book is Fath al-Bari, which is the explanation of Sahih al-Bukhari and also his book Tahrib wa't-Tahrib, which is a book concerning the different narrators in the Kutub as-Sitta.
Learning outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
- Describe the difference between ‘ahadith’ and ‘sunnah’
- Demonstrate an understanding of the different phases in the collating of hadith literature in the first three centuries of Islam
- Evaluate the methods used to classify hadith
- Demonstrate an understanding of the hadith types and their definitions
- Differentiate between the levels of authenticity of hadith narrations
Textbooks Slated:
- Nukhbat al-Fikar by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalānī (Module Code: HSC - 102)