THE STUDENT’S GUIDE TO THE SCIENCES OF HADITH

Abstract

The book Zād al-Ṭālib min ʿUlūm al-Ḥadīth provides a foundational and pedagogical study aimed at facilitating the understanding of the principles and critical methods of ḥadīth sciences for students and researchers in Islamic studies. The author adopts a methodological approach that integrates theoretical exposition with practical application, enabling readers to grasp definitions and concepts while practicing analytical techniques used by classical ḥadīth scholars. The work offers a comprehensive introduction to the science of ḥadīth terminology, tracing its origins, historical development, and significance in preserving the Prophetic Sunnah. It examines the main categories of ḥadīth-ṣaḥīḥ, ḥasan, ḍaʿīf, and maʿlūl, and explains the methodological standards of authentication and rejection. The book further discusses al-jarḥ wa-l-taʿdīl (evaluation of narrators), the conditions of integrity and accuracy, and the procedures for scrutinizing isnād and matn, illustrated with examples from major ḥadīth collections. A distinctive feature of the text is its applied and instructional dimension, including exercises that train students to assess reports according to established criteria. The author emphasizes the interconnection between ḥadīth sciences and other Islamic disciplines such as uṣūl al-fiqh and tafsīr, situating the field within the broader framework of Islamic scholarship. Ultimately, the book asserts that mastery of ḥadīth studies requires a combination of precise theoretical knowledge and rigorous critical practice, stressing that revitalizing this discipline among students is essential for preserving the authenticity of the Sunnah and cultivating sound scholarly awareness.