The Science of Prophetic Hadith (2)

Course Name: The Science of Prophetic Hadith (2)

Course Teacher: Shaikh Ahrar Mohammed Shareef (Phd Research Scholar, and Lecturer of Hadith and its Sciences at the College of Hadith and Islamic Studies, Islamic University of Madinah)

Course Book: Mustalah al-Hadith - 2 (The Science of Prophetic Hadith), published by: Ihsan Center for Prophets Sunnah Studies in Madinah (Developed in accordance with the syllabus of this course for the College of Hadith and Islamic Studies, Islamic University of Madinah)

Start date: June 23, 2025

End date: July 30, 2025

Workload: 6 weeks teaching with 5 hours classroom contact per week, for a total of 30 hours

Schedule: Every Monday and Wednesday, 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM ET

Location: Oxford College - Mississauga Campus (1300 Central Pkwy. W., 4th Floor, Mississauga, ON., L5C 4G8)

Method of Assessment: One x 2-hour end-of-course exam (100%)

Prerequisites: None

General Description of the Course: The course consists of: various categorizations of Prophetic Hadith and acquaintance with the main terminologies used by the scholars of Hadith in classifying Ahadith.

Main Objective of the Course: Familiarization with Mustalah al-Hadith (the science of Prophetic Hadith), understanding the main terminologies of this science, and applying it correctly to the Prophetic Sunnah.

Learning Outcomes of the Course: Upon successful completion of this course a student will be able to:

1- Explain the terminologies of this science and define them.

2- Divide the Prophetic Hadith based on its various categorizations.

3- Mention examples for each terminology from Prophetic Ahadith.

4- Identify the differences between each terminology.

Scope and Syllabus: Topics covered on the syllabus may include, but are not limited to:

Firstly: Categorization of Prophetic Hadith based on acceptance and rejection:

1- al-Maqbul (acceptable Hadith): [Completed in the previous course of Science of Prophetic Hadith (1) here].

2- al-Mardud (rejected Hadith):

a. Types of Daif Ahadith due to al-Inqita (a break in the chain of narration): [Completed in the previous course of Science of Prophetic Hadith (1) here].

b. Types of Daif Ahadith due to at-Tan fi ar-Rawi (disparagement of the narrators in the chain of narration):

1) al-Mawdu: its definition, examples, ruling, why it has been called a Hadith, the causes for fabrication, the ways to uncover fabrications, and the books that have been authored in this type.

2) al-Matruk: its definition, examples, and ruling.

3) al-Mukhtalit: its definition, the causes of al-Ikhtilat, examples, ruling, and the books that have been authored in this type.

4) al-Musahhaf: its definition, the difference between it and al-Muharraf, categories, examples, and the books that have been authored in this type. 

c. Types of Daif Ahadith due to al-Mukhalafah (opposition to a stronger chain of narration):

1) ash-Shadh: its definition, examples, and ruling.

2) al-Munkar: its definition, the difference between it and ash-Shadh, examples, and ruling.

d. Types of Daif Ahadith due to al-Illah al-Qadihah (a hidden defect):

1) al-Mual: its definition, the meaning of al-Illah, examples, ruling, and the books that have been authored in this type.

2) al-Mudtarib: its definition, conditions, categories, examples, ruling, and the books that have been authored in this type.

3) al-Mudraj: its definition, categories, examples, ruling, and the books that have been authored in this type.

4) al-Maqlub: its definition, categories, examples, ruling, and the books that have been authored in this type.

(*) Ziyadah ath-Thiqah: its definition, occurrence in the Matan (text) and the Isnad (chain of narration), examples, and ruling.

(*) al-Mazid fi Mutassil al-Asanid: its definitions, conditions, examples, and the books that have been authored in this type.

Secondly: Kaifiyyah Sama al-Hadith wa Tahammulihi wa Sifah Dabtihi wa Adaihi (process of hearing Ahadith and acquiring them, and characteristic of precisely preserving and transmitting them):

1- Tahammul al-Hadith (acquiring Ahadith): its definition, conditions, ruling of acquiring Ahadith in childhood or a state of disbelief, and methods.

2- Ada al-Hadith (transmitting Ahadith): its definition and terminologies.

3- Kitabah al-Hadith wa Dabtudu (writing Ahadith and ensuring their precision): its principles and rules.

4- Sifah Riwayah al-Hadith (characteristic of narrating Ahadith): narrating Ahadith from ones memory or book, narration of the blind, narrating Ahadith in accordance to the meaning of the speech Messenger of Allah ﷺ but with a different wording, and grammatical mistakes in narrating Ahadith.

Thirdly: Matters of Ulum al-Hadith (Hadith sciences) connected to the Matan (text) of the Hadith:

1- Asbab Wurud al-Hadith (causes for the advent of Ahadith): its definition, importance, examples, and the books that have been authored in this type.

2- Gharib al-Hadith (rare words found in the texts of Ahadith): its definition, examples, and the books that have been authored in this type.

3- al-Muhkam and Mukhtalif al-Hadith (apparent contradiction between two or more acceptable Ahadith): their definitions, examples, importance, and the general principles of dealing with Mukhtalif al-Hadith, and the books that have been authored in this type.

4- Nasikh al-Hadith wa Mansukhuhu (abrogated Ahadith): its definition, importance, examples, way of identifying it, ruling, and the books that have been authored in this type.

Fourthly: Adab al-Muhaddith wa at-Talib (manners of the scholar of Hadith and its student):

1- Adab al-Muhaddith (manners of the scholar of Hadith).

a. Most important manners that are befitting for a scholar of Hadith.

b. Recommended actions for a scholar of Hadith if he wishes to hold a gathering for dictating Hadith.

2- Adab Talib al-Hadith (manners of the student of Hadith):

a. Manners pertaining to himself.

b. Manners pertaining to his teachers.

c. Manners pertaining to his books.

d. Manners pertaining to his peers.

Course Fee: $200 CAD