Hadith and Sciences

SUBJECT OVERVIEW

Traditions (Hadith) are records of actions, statements and descriptions of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him and his family). As these traditions are a key source of Islamic law, thought, culture, and life – second only to the Qur’an itself – this course aims to derive points of benefit from the Prophetic traditions.

This course intends to nurture the student’s faith, deepen their religious understanding, increase them in love of the Beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him and his family) and gain clarity on how to live the essence of his wisdom.

Studying the principles of hadith classification and terminology is a major component of hadith studies. This course covers the types of chains of transmission (asanid), types of acceptable narrations (maqbul) and the types of rejected narrations (mardud).

TOPICS COVERED

– Classification of Hadith.

– Types of chains of transmission.

– Types of rejected narrations.

– Hadith terminology.

–  Fundamental concepts of Hadith sciences.

– Understanding 40 foundational hadith.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

– Gain precise definitions and explanations of core Islamic concepts.

– Contextualize this Prophetic guidance to our contemporary lives.

– Understand the beauty, wisdom, virtue, and mercy that is the essence and reality of Prophetic guidance.

– Describe the difference between ‘Hadith’ 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.

COURSES TAUGHT

Hadith Terminology I

Credit hours - 1
This course is an introduction to the sciences of Hadith. Students will be introduced to the methodology of the scholars of hadith in authenticating and categorizing reports. They will also learn the various terminologies used by them. The text covered in this course will be Nukhbah al-Fikar.

Hadith Literature I

Credit hours - 1
As an introduction to Hadith literature, students will examine the Arbain al-Nawawi (Nawawi’s 40 Hadith). With the help of the instructor students will memorize and learn to interpret the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him and his family).

Hadith Sciences I

Credit hours - 2
This course is an introduction to the sciences of Hadith. In this course students learn the foundations that ground the paradigm of hadith sciences. Students will also learn the method of takhrij, and of the essential resources that are required for it. They will also explore the various disagreements among scholars regarding the principles of hadith learned in Hadith Terminology I, while analyzing their proofs and arguments.