The Principles of Hadith – in Light of Tradition and Orientalism
The Principles of hadith IN light of tradition and orientalism by Abdul Aleem www.TheRopeOfAllah.com Part One: Usul ul-Hadith www.TheRopeOfAllah.com Introduction to Usul ul-Hadith The word ‘hadith’ in its literal sense is a reference to a piece of news, narration, or report. When used as an adjective, it means ‘new’. In this regard, the Qur’an uses the word ‘hadith’ in the meanings of a meaningful conversation (Surah At- Tahrim, ayah 3), non-meaningful conversation (Surah Al-An’am, ayah 68), a historical narrative (Surah Taha, ayah 9), and even the Qur’an itself (Surah Al- Qalam, ayah 44). The Prophet (SAW) himself also used the term in a variety of meanings. However, as the conversations, narrations or ‘ahadith’ in the early period of Islam were dominated by the words of the Prophet (SAW), the term began to be used almost exclusively for actions and sayings, in order to form the Sunnah. Further to this, the word khabar is also used synonymously to ‘hadith’ by the hadith scholars – even though it also means ‘news’. Thus, every hadith is a khabar, but not every khabar is a hadith. Similarly, the word athar (meaning ‘footsteps’) can also refer to either the narrations of the Prophet (SAW) - as used by Tabari and Tahawi, or the companions (RA). But in order to avoid any confusion, this term is now generally used to refer only to the practice and sayings of the Sahaabah (RA). Hadith reports of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) are of the following kind: • What he said (qaul).
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