al-Irshadat fi Taqwiyat al-Ahadith bil-Shawahid wal-Mutabaat
- Author died
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- Editions
- Maktabat Ibn Taymiyyah
al-Irshadat fi Taqwiyat al-Ahadith bil-Shawahid wal-Mutabaat (الإرشادات في تقوية الأحاديث بالشواهد والمتابعات, Guidelines on Strengthening Hadiths through Corroborating and Parallel Transmissions) is a contemporary treatise on hadith methodology written by the Egyptian hadith specialist Abu Muadh Tariq bin Awd Allah ibn Muhammad . The work focuses on the principles, boundaries, and practical application of reinforcing weak hadiths through corroborating reports (shawahid) and parallel chains of transmission (mutabaat) .
Subject and Scope
The book is classified within the genre of hadith terminology (mustalah al-hadith) and criticism (al-jarh wal-tadil), addressing the examination of transmission routes (itibar) to determine whether an apparent individual narration (fard) possesses supporting paths . In it, the author explores the methodology of classical hadith critics in cross-referencing narrations, identifying the underlying errors and hidden defects (ilal) of transmitters, and setting criteria for which weak reports are eligible for elevation versus those whose severity of weakness or irregularity prevents strengthening .
The author cautions students of hadith against rushing to issue judgments or being deceived by the apparent soundness of chains of transmission without comprehensive collation and comparative analysis of paths .
Publication and Reception
The book was published in its first edition in 1417 AH / 1998 CE by Maktabat Ibn Taymiyyah in Cairo and distributed by Dar Zamzam in Riyadh, spanning 494 pages in a single volume .
The work has been recommended in contemporary curricula and reference lists for hadith students, including by Muhammad Hasan Abd al-Ghaffar, who regarded it as one of the best works dedicated to the subject of shawahid and mutabaat . It is frequently cited in modern critical editions and takhrij studies for its analyses of disputed transmission chains and critical positions of early authorities .
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