Kitabat al-Bahth al-Ilmi Siyagha Jadida
- Author died
- 1444 AH
- Editions
- Dār al-Shurūq lil-Nashr wa-al-Tawzī‘
Kitabat al-Bahth al-Ilmi Siyagha Jadida (Writing Academic Research: A New Formulation) is an academic manual on research methodology and thesis preparation by the Saudi scholar Abd al-Wahhab Abu Sulayman (d. 1444 AH / 2023 CE), written for university and graduate students .
Background and Composition
The work originally formed the first part of Abu Sulayman's combined guide, Kitabat al-Bahth al-Ilmi wa-Masadir al-Dirasat al-Islamiyya (Writing Academic Research and Sources of Islamic Studies), which was published in earlier editions in 1400 AH and 1403 AH . In response to suggestions from colleagues, academic reviews, and his teaching experience in research seminars with graduate students at Umm al-Qura University, Abu Sulayman separated the methodological guide from the bibliographic source surveys . The bibliographic portion was subsequently divided into three independent volumes covering Qur'anic, Hadith, and theological studies; legal (Fiqh) studies; and Arabic and historical studies .
The author completed the manuscript of the revised independent text on Sunday, 11 Sha'ban 1406 AH (20 April 1986 CE), finalized its corrections on Wednesday, 9 Ramadan 1407 AH (6 May 1987 CE), and published it as an independent title in 1408 AH . In his preface, the author acknowledged feedback and contributions from scholars including Ismail al-Faruqi, Abd al-Fattah Ismail Shalabi, Abbas Salih Tashkandi, Hisham Abd Allah al-Abbas, and Fu'ad Abd al-Mun'im Ahmad .
Structure and Contents
The book is organized into four main chapters covering the stages of academic research:
- Chapter One: Principles of Academic Research (Mabadi' fi al-Bahth al-Ilmi): Defines scientific research, its characteristics, and classifications of university theses; discusses the role and traits of the researcher, academic supervision, selection of topics and titles, formulating research proposals and plans, the scientific method, and procedures for identifying and recording primary sources on index cards .
- Chapter Two: Preparation (Al-I'dad): Focuses on note-taking techniques, evaluating sources, recording incidental ideas, card organization, extracting text, footnote placement and functions, citation systems (full footnote citation, parenthetical documentation, and numerical references), citing digital and computer-based sources, general rules of quotation, and punctuation .
- Chapter Three: Writing (Al-Kitaba): Treats the drafting process, writing the introduction and conclusion, revising the text, organizing bibliography lists, and distinguishing between footnote citations and final bibliography entries .
- Chapter Four: The Research in Its Final Form (Al-Bahth fi Shaklihi al-Akhir): Details technical guidelines for printing, pagination, layout, side margins, headings, tables, binding, and the formal sequence of preliminary and concluding thesis pages (title page, abstract, acknowledgments, tables of contents, body, and appendices) . It concludes with an overview of the thesis defense process and the academic evaluation criteria used by examination committees .
Methodological Focus
Abu Sulayman incorporated comparative material from contemporary university research methodologies, adapting them for Arab and Islamic studies students . The revised work notably introduced direct parenthetical documentation alongside traditional footnoting, laid out conventions for documenting electronic computer sources, and outlined standardized criteria for assessing original contribution, objectivity, and the student's defense of a thesis .
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