The Science of the Narrators of Hadith (2)

Course Name: The Science of the Narrators of 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: Ruwat al-Hadith (The Narrators of Hadith), by: Shaikh Professor Dr. Awwad bin Humaid ar-Ruwaithi (Previous Head of the Department of Hadith Sciences, College of Hadith and Islamic Studies, Islamic University of Madinah)

Start date: August 3, 2026

End date: August 14, 2026

Workload: 2 weeks teaching with 15 hours classroom contact per week, for a total of 30 hours

Schedule: Monday to Friday, 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM ET

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

Prerequisites: None

General Description of the Course: The course consists of: a study of the most famous books authored in Ilm ar-Rijal (the science of the narrators of Hadith) and their methodologies, terminologies of the scholars of Hadith specific to the narrators, highlighting the efforts of the scholars and their service to this science, and practical methods of benefitting from the most important books collecting the narrators of Hadith.

Main Objective of the Course: Familiarization with Ilm ar-Rijal (the science of the narrators of Hadith), the methodologies that the scholars of Hadith followed whilst authoring in it, and ways of utilizing the most important books in this science along with practical application.

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

1- Explain the terminologies of the scholars of Hadith pertaining to the narrators of Hadith.

2- Highlight the efforts of the scholars of Hadith in Ilm ar-Rijal (the science of the narrators of Hadith).

3- Compare between the methodologies of the scholars of Hadith in authoring books compiling the narrators of Hadith.

4- Extract the biographies of the narrators of Hadith from the books authored in this science.

5- Differentiate between the narrators who have similar names and ascriptions by returning to the specialized books in this regard.

6- Assort the different types of books based on their subject matter.

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

Firstly: Books authored in Ilm ar-Rijal (the science of the narrators of Hadith) according to their chronological order:

1- Books authored in Marifah as-Sahabah (acquaintance with the Sahabah): [Completed in the previous course of Science of the Narrators of Hadith (1) here].

2- Books authored in Marifah at-Tabieen (acquaintance with the Tabieen): [Completed in the previous course of Science of the Narrators of Hadith (1) here].

3- Books authored in Marifah Tabaqat al-Muhaddithin (acquaintance with the ranks of the scholars of Hadith in terms of narration of Hadith): [Completed in the previous course of Science of the Narrators of Hadith (1) here].

4- Books authored in al-Jarh wat-Tadil (the discipline of criticizing and praising the narrators of Hadith): [Completed in the previous course of Science of the Narrators of Hadith (1) here].

5- Books authored in Tawarikh al-Buldan (narrators of Hadith in specific regions):

a. Introductory precepts: its meaning, its sources, its importance and benefit, emergence of authorship in it, and the regions whose narrators the scholars of Hadith authored books in.

b. Most famous books authored in it and a study of two books: "Tarikh Baghdad" of al-Khatib al-Baghdadi and "Tarikh Dimashq" of Ibn Asakir in light of: the complete name of the book, a brief biography of its author, its subject matter, its academic rank, its methodology, its sources, and its distinguishing characteristics.

6- Books authored in Marifah al-Asma wa Tamyizuha wa Dabtuha (acquaintance with the names and ascriptions of the narrators of Hadith, differentiating between them, and correctly vowelizing them):

a. Introductory precepts: efforts of the scholars of Hadith in servicing it, emergence of authorship in it, and its importance and benefit.

b. Various types of books of authored in it:

1) Books in al-Kuna (teknonyms of the narrators): definition of al-Kunyah, categories of the Kuna along with examples, its benefit, methodologies of the scholars of Hadith in authorship in it, its sources, the most famous books authored in it and a study of the book: "al-Kuna wal-Asma" of ad-Dulabi in light of: the complete name of the book, a brief biography of its author, its subject matter, its academic rank, its methodology, its sources, and its distinguishing characteristics.

2) Books in al-Alqab (nicknames of the narrators): definition of al-Laqab, its ruling, its importance, the most famous books authored in it and a study of the book: "Nuzhah al-Albab" of Ibn Hajar in light of: the complete name of the book, a brief biography of its author, its subject matter, its academic rank, its methodology, its sources, and its distinguishing characteristics.

3) Books in al-Ansab (ascriptions of the narrators): its meaning, its importance, the most famous books authored in it and a study of the book: "al-Ansab" of as-Samani in light of: the complete name of the book, a brief biography of its author, its subject matter, its academic rank, its methodology, its sources, and its distinguishing characteristics.

4) Books in al-Muttafiq wal-Muftariq (identical names but distinct narrators): its definition, examples, its importance and benefit, its categories, the most famous books authored in it and a study of the book: "al-Muttafiq wal-Muftariq" of al-Khatib al-Baghdadi in light of: the complete name of the book, a brief biography of its author, its subject matter, its academic rank, its methodology, its sources, and its distinguishing characteristics.

5) Books on al-Mutalif wal-Mukhtalif (similar names of the narrators in writing but varying pronunciation): its definition, examples, its importance and benefit, the methods of distinguishing between it and al-Muttafiq wal-Muftariq, the most famous books authored in it and a study of the book: "al-Ikmal" of Ibn Makula in light of: the complete name of the book, a brief biography of its author, its subject matter, its academic rank, its methodology, its sources, and its distinguishing characteristics.

6) Books on al-Mushtabih (a combination of the previous two types): its definition, examples, its importance and benefit, its categories, the most famous books authored in it and a study of the books: "Talkhis al-Mutashabih" of al-Khatib al-Baghdadi and "Tabsir al-Muntabih" of Ibn Hajar in light of: the complete name of the book, a brief biography of its author, its subject matter, its academic rank, its methodology, its sources, and its distinguishing characteristics.

7- Books authored in al-Wafayat (dates of death of the narrators of Hadith):

a. Introductory precepts: its meaning, its importance, and benefit of knowing them.

b. Most famous books authored in al-Wafayat.

8- Books authored in Maajim ash-Shuyukh (names and biographies of the teachers of the narrators of the Hadith):

a. Introductory precepts: its meaning, its importance and benefit, methodologies of the scholars of Hadith in arranging the books authored in it, who compiles these books.

b. Most famous books authored in Maajim ash-Shuyukh.

9- Books authored in Rijal Kitab aw Kutub Muayyanah (biographies of the narrators of Hadith in a particular book or various books):

a. Introductory precepts: its importance and benefit.

b. Most famous books authored in this field:

1) Books on the biographies of the narrators in a single specific book.

2) Books on the biographies of the narrators in the Sahihain (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).

3) Books on the biographies of the narrators of al-Kutub al-Sittah (the Six Books of Hadith) and a study of the following books: "Tahdhib al-Kamal" of al-Mizzi, "al-Kashif" of adh-Dhahabi, and "Tahdhib at-Tahdhib" and "Taqrib at-Tahdhib" of Ibn Hajar in light of: the complete name of the book, a brief biography of its author, its subject matter, its academic rank, its methodology, its sources, and its distinguishing characteristics.