Ibn Uthaymin
Mustalah al-Hadith
- Author died
- 1421 AH
- Editions
- Maktabat al-ʿIlm
Mustalah al-Hadith (Hadith Terminology) is an introductory textbook on the principles and terminology of Hadith criticism by the Saudi scholar Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymin (d. 1421 AH / 2001 CE), designed as an intermediate primer for religious students .
Composition and Purpose
Ibn Uthaymin authored the work to explain the essential rules by which authentic prophetic reports are distinguished from rejected ones . It was tailored specifically to serve as the standard textbook for the first- and second-year secondary curriculum across the Saudi scientific institutes (al-Ma'ahid al-'Ilmiyyah) . The author completed the composition on Thursday, 16 Rabi' al-Thani 1396 AH .
Structure and Content
The book is structured into two main parts corresponding to the two academic years:
- Part One (First Secondary Year): Opens with foundational definitions of Hadith terminology and its utility, distinguishing between hadith, khabar, athar, and the hadith qudsi (divine narration), clarifying how the latter compares to the Quran and ordinary prophetic speech . It then classifies reports by their channels of transmission into mutawatir (mass-transmitted) and ahad (solitary) . Solitary reports are broken down by lines of transmission into mashhur (well-known), 'aziz (rare), and gharib (singular), and by epistemic grade into sahih li-dhatihi (authentic in itself), sahih li-ghayrihi (authentic through corroboration), hasan li-dhatihi (good in itself), hasan li-ghayrihi (good through corroboration), and da'if (weak) . It outlines the specific conditions governing when weak narrations may be mentioned in exhortation (al-targhib wa-l-tarhib), and concludes with the principles of transmitter evaluation (al-jarh wa-l-ta'dil), including the criteria for valid impugnment or accreditation and how to reconcile conflicting assessments .
- Part Two (Second Secondary Year): Addresses the classification of reports according to their final attribution, detailing the marfu' (raised to the Prophet ﷺ, both explicit and implicit), mawquf (halted at a Companion), and maqtu' (cut off at a Successor) . It concludes with practical advice on the etiquette of seeking knowledge, respect for instructors, and the preservation and care of books .
Method and Reception
The book presents Hadith nomenclature through concise pedagogical definitions, structural divisions, and concrete textual examples for each category . Due to its clarity and pedagogical focus, the work was included in instructional reading curricula for Islamic studies students, with an emphasis on memorizing its definitions . It was also abridged into a core memorization text by Hazim Khanfar under the title al-Nubdhah al-'Uthayminiyyah fi Mustalah al-Hadith .
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