Ulum al-Hadith is a vast ocean of a science. It requires extensive reading and study over many, many years. Here is a suggested curriculum for aspiring students of hadith, consisting of a combination of Arabic and English works. It is based on my own experiences and advice from consulting with scholars, as well as the wonderful Multaqa…Continue reading Ulum al-Hadith Curriculum
Category: Hadith
How to study Hadith
The following works are basic hadith collections For the serious student of usul hadith: Foundations Intermediate Advanced Mastery The following contemporary authors also have beneficial works: Shaykh Abdullah al-Sa’d offered the following advice during one class for students of hadith: Ilm al-riwayah begins with al-Bukhari and Muslim whilst listening to recorded commentaries where possible. Then move onto…Continue reading How to study Hadith
The Golden Chains of Hadith narration
In hadith narration, the Sanad plays an important part when authenticating hadith. Factors like the individuals themselves and the number of people in the chain strengthen or set hadith above one another. There are multiple opinions on which chains are golden, i.e. narrated by immaculately precise, honest and pious people. According to al-Bukhari, the strongest…Continue reading The Golden Chains of Hadith narration
Hadith Curriculum according to Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi and other traditional scholars
Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi in Jami’ li Akhlaq al-Rawi and Ibn al-Salah, in his Muqaddimah, recommend the following curriculum which has been approved, expanded, and commented upon by al-Nawawi in al-Taqrib, al-Suyuti in Tadrib al-Rawi, al-Iraqi in his Alfiyyah, al-Sakhawi in Fath al-Mughith, and Zakariyah al-Ansari in Fath al-Baqi: Commence by studying the sahih works of al-Bukhari and Muslim with care and attention. Al-Ansari and al-Sakhawi both state (perhaps from their teacher Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani) that al-Bukhari takes precedence due to the extreme care he…Continue reading Hadith Curriculum according to Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi and other traditional scholars
The Mastery of Hadith according to Shaykh Hatim al-Awni
Shaykh Hatim al-Awni al-Sharif of Makka gives valuable advice in his booklet, Nasa’ih Manhajiyah li-Talib ‘Ilm al-Sunnah al-Nabawiyah. Obsessively read the Sahihayn, devoting a period each day for their study so that one can complete reading them in a year. One should aim at a minimum to do this over four years, during high school or university, so that…Continue reading The Mastery of Hadith according to Shaykh Hatim al-Awni
The Classifications of Hadith Summarised
The science of hadith is vast and there are many classifications and rankings of hadith. Here is a summary of the main types of classifications (tabaqat). A hadith is composed of three parts: The Matn is the main text whereas the Isnad is the chain of reporters leading back to the Prophet, and the Taraf is the beginning sentence of…Continue reading The Classifications of Hadith Summarised