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A Brief History Of Hadith Methodology

As time passed, more reporters were involved in each isnad (chain of narrators), and so the situation demanded strict discipline in the acceptance of Ahadith; the rules regulating this discipline are known as Mustalah Al-Hadith (Hadith methodology).

Among the early traditionists (muhaddithun, scholars of Ahadith), the rules and criteria governing their study of Hadith were meticulous, but some of their terminologies varied from person to person, and their principles began to be systematically written down, but scattered among various books; for example, in Ar-Risalah of Ash-Shafi`i (d. AH 204), the introduction to the Sahih of Muslim (d. AH 261) and the Jami of At-Tirmidhi (d. AH 279). Many of the criteria of early traditionists, for example, Al-Bukhari, were deduced by later scholars from a careful study of which reporters or isnads were accepted and rejected by them.

One of the earliest writings to attempt to cover methodology comprehensively, using standard (generally accepted) terminology, was the work by Ar-Ramahurmuzi (d. AH 360). The next major contribution was Ma`rifat Ulum Al-Hadith by Al-Hakim (d. AH 405), which covered 50 classifications of Hadith, but still left some points untouched; Abu Nu`aim Al-Asbahani (d. AH 430) completed some of the missing parts to this work. After that came Al-Kifayah fi `Ilm ar-Riwayah of Al-Khatib Al-Baghdadi (d. AH 463) and another work on the manner of teaching and studying Ahadith. Later scholars were considered to be greatly indebted to Al-Khatib’s work.

After further contributions by Qadi Iyad Al-Yahsubi (d. AH 544) and Abu Hafs Al-Mayanji (d. AH 580) among others, came the work which, although modest in size, was so comprehensive in its excellent treatment of the subject that it came to be the standard reference for thousands of scholars and students of Hadith to come, over many centuries until the present day: `Ulum al-Hadith of Abu Amr `Uthman Ibn As-Salah (d. AH 643), commonly known as Muqaddimat Ibn As-Salah (Muqaddimah of Ibn As-Salah), compiled while he taught in the Dar Al-Hadith (Hadith school) of several cities in Syria. Some of the numerous later works based on that of Ibn As-Salah are these:

Al-Irshad, an abridgment of Muqaddimah, by An-Nawawi (d. AH 676), which he later summarized in his Taqrib. As-Suyuti (d. AH 911) compiled a valuable commentary on the latter entitled Tadrib Al-Rawi.

Ikhtisar `Ulum al-Hadith by Ibn Kathir (d. AH 774); Al-Khulasah by Al-Taibi (d. AH 743); Al-Minhal by Badr Ad-Din ibn Jama`ah (d. AH 733); Al-Muqni` by Ibn Al-Mulaqqin (d. AH 802); and Mahasin al-Istilah by Al-Balqini (d. AH 805 ), all of which are abridgments of Muqaddimat Ibn As-Salah.

Nukat by Az-Zarkashi (d. AH 794); At-Taqyid wal-Idah by Al-`Iraqi (d. AH 806); and An-Nukat by Ibn Hajar Al-`Asqalani (d. AH 852), all of which are further notes on the points made by Ibn As-Salah.

Alfiyyat al-Hadith by Al-`Iraqi, a rewriting of Muqaddimah in the form of a lengthy poem, which became the subject of several commentaries, including two (one long, one short) by the author himself; Fath Al-Mughith by As-Sakhawi (d. AH 903); Qatar Ad-Durar by As-Suyuti; and Fath Al-Baqi by Sheikh Zakariya Al-Ansari (d. AH 928).

Other notable treatises on Hadith methodology include the following:

Al-Iqtirah by Ibn Daqiq Al-`Id (d. AH 702); Tanqih al-Anzar by Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Al-Wazir (d. AH 840), which was the subject of a commentary by Al-Amir As-San`ani (d. AH 1182).

Nukhbat Al-Fikr by Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani, again the subject of several commentaries, including one by the author himself, one by his son Muhammad, and those of Ali Al-Qari (d. AH 1014), `Abdur-Ra’uf Al-Munawi (d. AH 1031) and Muhammad ibn Abdul-Hadi As-Sindi (d. AH 1138). Among those who rephrased the Nukhbah in the poetic form are At-Tufi (d. AH 893) and Al-Amir As-San`ani.

Alfiyyat Al-Hadith by As-Suyuti, the most comprehensive poetic work in the field; Al-Manzumah by Al-Baiquni, which was expanded upon by, among others, Az-Zurqani (d. AH 1122) and Nawab Siddiq Hasan Khan (d. AH 1307); Qawaid At-Tahdith by Jamal Ad-Din Al-Qasimi (d. AH 1332).

Tawjih an-Nazar by Tahir Al-Jaza‚iri (d. AH 1338), a summary of Al-Hakim’s Ma`rifah.

O People! Verily Allah has Prescribed Upon You Hajj So Perform Hajj

Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) revealed in the Qur’an:- “And proclaim the Hajj among mankind. They will come to thee on foot and (mounted) on every camel, lean on account of journeys through deep and distant mountain highways”(Source – Quran ~Surah Al-Hajj~ Ayah #28).

When Ibrahim (Alaihis salaam) completed the structure of the Kabah, Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) commanded him to call the people to Hajj. Ibrahim (Alaihis salaam) pleaded…”O, Allah! How shall my voice reach all of those people?” Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) told him that his duty was only to give the call….. and it was up to Allah to make it reach the people. Ibrahim (Alaihis salaam) then climbed Mount Arafat and called out in his loudest voice… “O, People! Verily Allah has prescribed upon you Hajj, so perform Hajj.”

‘Amr ibn Al-‘Aas narrates:- “When Islam entered my heart, I went to the Messenger of Allah and said:- ‘Give me your hand so that I may pledge allegiance to you.’ The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) spread his hand, but I withdrew mine. He (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:- ‘What is wrong ‘Amr?’ I said, ‘I want to make a condition.’ ‘And what is that?’ he (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said. I said, ‘That Allah will forgive me.’ Then the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, ‘Did you not know that Islam wipes out what came before it, and that Hijrah wipes out what came before it and that Hajj wipes out what came before it!”
(Source:-Sahih Muslim).

Hajj is the fifth pillar upon which Islam stands. Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) made it compulsory …. for every able Muslim male and female to perform it, at least once in a lifetime.

Allah (Subhanuhu Wa-Ta’ala) revealed: Hajj thereto is a duty mankind owes to Allah, those who can afford the journey, but if any deny faith, Allah stands not in need of any of His creatures”.
(Source:- ‘Quran’ ~Surah Ali Imran, Ayah # 97).

Performance of the Hajj washes away all sins. Abu Hurairah narrates:- I heard the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) say… “Whoever performs Hajj and does not commit any Rafath (obscenity) or Fusooq (transgression),
he returns (free from sin) as the day his mother bore him”.
( Source ~Sahih Bukhari).

Hajj is one of the greatest deeds one can accomplish in his or her lifetime.

Abu Hurairah narrates:- The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was asked… “What deed is the best?” He (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said… “Iman in Allah and His Messenger.” “Then what?” “Jihad for the sake of Allah.” “Then what?” “Hajj Mabroor”!!!
{a Hajj accepted by Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) }

Abu Sha’thaa’ said:- “I contemplated the good deeds that a person does. I found that salaah, as well as fasting, are a jihad of the body. And that sadaqah is a jihad of someone’s wealth. But Hajj is a jihad of both body and wealth.”

Hajj is the greatest Jihad. Aishah (Radiallahu anha) asked the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)… “We find that jihad is the best deed, shouldn’t we (women) do jihad?” The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied… “Rather the best jihad is a Hajj Mabroor!” Aishah (R.A.) later said… “I’ll never cease performing Hajj after I heard that from Rasul Allah”
(Agreed Upon).

The dua of the one in Hajj shall be accepted. The Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “The soldier in the path of Allah and the one who performs Hajj and the one who performs ‘Umra, all are the delegation of Allah!

He (Subhanuhu wa-ta’ala) called them and they answered. And they asked Him, and He shall grant them (what they ask for)!”
(Source:-Authentic hadith, narrated by Ibn Majah and Ibn Hibban).

In the Islamic history books, it was narrated that on the day of Arafat, a man from Turkmenistan stood on the plains of Arafat in Hajj. To his left, all he could see were Muslims crying and praying to Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala). To his right, all he could see were Muslims crying and praying to Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala). Because of his native tongue, he could not imitate the lengthy prayers of the others. At this realization, everything blurred in front of him. His face reddened, and his eyes poured tears as he raised his hands, “O Allah! Grant me everything that they are asking for! Grant me everything that they are asking for!” And Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) accepted his dua!!!

There is not a single day that the sun has come up on more beloved to Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) than the Day of Arafat. The Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:- “There is no day on which Allah frees more of His slaves from Fire than the Day of Arafat, and He verily draws near, then boasts of them before the angels, saying:- ‘What do they seek?’
(Source:-Sahih Muslim).

And in another hadith:- “Verily Allah boasts of the people of Arafat before the people of Heaven (angels) saying: ‘Look to my servants who have come to Me disheveled and dusty.'”

Abdullah ibn Al-Mubaarak narrates:- I went to Sufyaan ibn al-Uyaynah as the day of Arafat was setting. He sat on his knees, his hands raised to the Heavens, and tears moistened his cheeks and beard. He turned and looked at me, so I asked him, “Amongst the people who have gathered here for Hajj, who is in the worst state?” Sufyaan ibn al-Uyaynah said… “He who thinks that Allah will not forgive him.”

A Mabroor Hajj is one in which Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) is not disobeyed during or after. Others have said that a Hajj Mabroor is one that is accepted, and the sign of its acceptance is that a person will go back in a better state than when he came, and that he will discontinue the sins that were between him and Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala).

when Ibn Umar was on his deathbed and his son reminded him of all the good deeds that he did with the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and the companions. He told him,:- “Quiet! Don’t you know whom Allah accepts from… Verily Allah only accepts from the God-Fearing
(Al-Muttaqoon).”

Indeed, the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:- “And there is no reward for an accepted Hajj- except …*Jannah*

Tears in my Eyes!
‘Insha Allah’!
‘ Son of Adam! You are nothing but a number of days, whenever each day passes then part of you has Gone.
{Al-Hasan Al-Basree}

Prophet’s Sayings: On Ten Things Are Part Of The Fitrah

Narrated by Ayesha (may Allah be pleased with her) ALLAH’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said:
“Ten things are part of the Fitrah (Not Allowed to keep more than the forty days):

1. Cutting the mustache
2. Letting the beard grow
3. Cleaning the teeth with a Siwaak
4. Rinsing the nose with water
5. Cutting one’s nails
6. Washing between the finger-joints
7. Plucking the armpit hairs
8. shaving the pubic hair and
9. Cleaning one’s private parts with water.”

Mus’ab said: I have forgotten the tenth but I think it was rinsing the mouth.

[ Reported by Ahmad, Muslim and the four authors of Sunan, from the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her ]