Hadith studies

Advanced Hadith Analysis and Isnad Criticism - Al-Salam Institute

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• published: 27 Sep 2014
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Sunan al-Tirmidhi and Sahih al-Bukhari: Hadith Analysis and Isnad Criticism Shaykh Akram Nadwi will continue to teach Sahih al-Bukhari and Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi every Sunday at the new ASI ‘alim classes run, as part of the advanced level course. These are amongst the mother books of the Islamic tradition and need no introduction to advanced students. However, what does need to be mentioned is that the way the Shaykh teaches each of the two books is according to its own unique qualities. In the case of Sahih al-Bukhari, the focus is on why the narrators meet his conditions and other versions within the six books do not, as well as an analysis of the content and arrangement of his book that al-Bukhari uses to argue that sahih hadiths are enough for a Muslim’s religion. For Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi the focus is on the craft of Hadith criticism and al-Tirmidhi’s distinctive grading of each tradition, including the many hadiths with ‘ilal (hidden defects), which he includes within his collection in order to teach about their deficiency. Shaykh Akram’s method of teaching includes writing out the isnad chains and comparing and contrasting the narrators between different versions within the six books of canonical hadith and other collections. Through this, the student sees the practical application of the general principles studied in the subject of Mustalah al-Hadith (Hadith Terminology). In fact, Shaykh Akram stresses time and again to his students that the Hadith experts never relied on general rules alone, but considered each narration as an individual case to be investigated on its own merits. Only through careful analysis of each hadith’s chain of narration and text is it possible to establish its degree of authenticity and meaning. Shaykh Akram’s students, previous and current, including ‘alims well versed in Hadith, have stressed the immense benefit that they have received from their Hadith study with him. If you are serious about one day becoming a Hadith Specialist, or you just wish to have a strong, balanced traditional Islamic education, there is no other accessible course teaching these texts at this level. Shaykh Akram Nadwi: Muhaddith of the Western World By the grace of Allah, the tradition of true Hadith scholarship has remained unbroken until the modern age. Masters of the discipline have remained amongst both the ulama’ of the Arab lands and of the Indian subcontinent. Shaykh Akram Nadwi hails from the Indian city of Lucknow and studied from many great teachers at the famous Nadwatul Ulama, including Shaykh Abu al-Hasan Ali Nadwi. He then embarked on his own rihla, taking from many senior shuyukh of the Arab lands, including the Hadith Master Shaykh ‘Abd al-Fattah Abu Ghudda. Finally, he was sent to Oxford in the UK, where he began to teach, alongside continued research into the vast ocean of the Hadith. Today, Shaykh Akram has established himself as one of the most knowledgeable Islamic scholars and foremost Hadith masters of the Western world. The quality of his teaching of the technical disciplines of Hadith and his original research into the deep issues of the field is exceptionally rare. He is currently teaching Sahih al-Bukhari and Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi in detail whilst writing his own commentary on Sahih Muslim. The care with which he investigates each hadith of these books within the classroom is such that there is no way to know if he will ever return to it again. Those who take this knowledge, benefit, while those who miss it, miss out. It is appropriate for serious students to make sure they avail themselves of the opportunity to study with scholars of this calibre while they are with us, may Allah give all the ulama’ long life, amin! The Benefits of Advanced Hadith Study with Al-Salam Institute • Taught by a traditional Muhaddith and master of Hadith criticism. • Learn the methodology of the great traditional experts of Hadith and how to apply it to real isnad chains. • Become deeply versed in the transmission and interpretation of the authentic prophetic Sunnah from the perspectives of different schools of law. • Join a circle of serious students of Hadith and learn to benefit from deep scholarly interaction with Shaykh Akram. • Gain the Shaykh’s ijazah in the teaching of these key Islamic texts. Course Start Date: 12 Oct 2014 Venue: Osmani Centre, London, UK Live Streamed Online To find out more please visit: www.al-salam.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/alsalaminstitute