al-Madkhal fi Tarikh al-Sunna
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- Al-Nashir Al-Mutamayyiz
al-Madkhal fi Tarikh al-Sunna (An Introduction to the History of the Sunna) is a contemporary study on the historical stages and documentation of the Prophetic Hadith by Hani Faqih (Hani ibn Ahmad Faqih), Professor of Hadith and its Sciences at the College of Hadith at the Islamic University of Madinah .
Background and Purpose
The author composed the work as a concise introduction to the history of the Prophetic Sunna, aligning its content with the course specifications of the "History of the Sunna" subject taught to students at the College of Hadith at the Islamic University of Madinah in accordance with accredited academic quality standards . A primary objective stated by the author is that establishing an accurate, authentic historical account of the Sunna serves as a crucial means to refute the doubts and criticisms raised by Orientalists and their followers, thereby dismantling distorted narratives about the preservation of Hadith .
Scope and Content
The book surveys the historical development and documentation of the Sunna from its origin during the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ to the modern period, emphasizing the scholarly efforts dedicated to collecting, recording, and defending Hadith literature . Among its core subjects, the work:
- Defines the Sunna linguistically and terminologically, and establishes the foundational principles and importance of studying its history .
- Outlines the stages of recording and compilation, including the early private writings of the Companions and Successors, the official collection initiated under Caliph Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, and the emergence of systematic Hadith classifications .
- Classifies the major genres of Hadith literature, such as sahihs, jami's, sunans, musnads, muwatta's, mustadraks, mustakhrajs, and mu'jams .
- Details the developments and shifts in the transmission of Hadith after the third Islamic century up to the modern era, marking the end of the primary period of oral reporting and the comprehensive stabilization of Hadith in written compendia .
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