al-Hadith al-Mawdui: al-Manhaj wa al-Tasil wa al-Tamthil
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- Editions
- Dar Taybah al-Khadra' li-l-Tiba'ah wa-l-Nashr
al-Hadith al-Mawdui: al-Manhaj wa al-Tasil wa al-Tamthil (The Thematic Hadith: Methodology, Foundational Grounding, and Exemplification) is a contemporary treatise on thematic Hadith methodology by the scholar Latifa al-Rashid . The work establishes a theoretical and methodological framework for the study of thematic Hadith (al-hadith al-mawdui), examining its historical roots, research procedures, interdisciplinary applications, and practical models .
Purpose and Scope
Drawing on her thirty-seven years of experience teaching Hadith and its sciences, al-Rashid composed the book to establish standardized principles and guidelines for thematic Hadith research . She notes that while the practice of gathering prophetic traditions around specific themes has ancient roots dating back to the earliest periods of compilation, modern thematic Hadith study as an independent technical discipline is relatively nascent and requires theoretical consolidation . The book addresses the needs of both specialized students of Islamic law and non-specialists, outlining how thematic Hadith can be utilized in interdisciplinary research alongside fields such as medicine and astronomy, as well as in computer software and electronic programs .
Structure and Content
The book is organized into four main sections (aqsam) :
- Part One: Introduces the definition of thematic Hadith, its significance, origins, and historical development. It distinguishes thematic Hadith from simple thematic compilation (al-jam al-mawdui) and analytical Hadith study (al-hadith al-tahlili), and details its connections with Hadith sciences, Islamic jurisprudence, Arabic linguistics, and other disciplines .
- Part Two: Details the research methodology of thematic Hadith studies, outlining research methods, academic phrasing and composition, distinct approaches to thematic study, and practical guidance for researchers .
- Part Three: Focuses on thematic study within interdisciplinary research (al-abhath al-bayniyya) and computer programming, defining guidelines for collaborative research where a Hadith specialist assists or supervises researchers in other fields to prevent misinterpreting prophetic texts .
- Part Four: Provides applied research samples and practical models. Each sample topic includes its dedicated research plan detailing the selected methodology, procedures, and category of research .
Methodological Approach
The author emphasizes that comprehensive thematic research requires exhaustive sourcing (takhrij) and the collection of all variant wordings and transmission pathways of relevant traditions . She divides thematic Hadith studies broadly into independent studies—where research is primarily conducted within Islamic studies by Hadith specialists—and interdisciplinary studies or computer software projects, where the Hadith specialist works collaboratively with researchers from other disciplines to ensure textual fidelity .
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