Sharh Sunan al-Tirmidhi - Abd al-Karim al-Khudayr

Sharh Sunan al-Tirmidhi (Arabic: شرح سنن الترمذي) is a contemporary commentary by the Saudi scholar Abd al-Karim al-Khudayr on the chapters of purification from the hadith collection Sunan al-Tirmidhi by Abu Isa al-Tirmidhi (d. 279 AH / 892 CE) Sharh Sunan al-Tirmidhi -…+1.

Composition and Structure

The work comprises transcribed lectures delivered by al-Khudayr and made available through his official website, spanning 36 numbered lessons Sharh Sunan al-Tirmidhi -…. It focuses exclusively on the chapters of purification (Abwab al-Taharah) from al-Tirmidhi's compendium Sharh Sunan al-Tirmidhi -…+1.

The commentary opens with an introductory lesson that outlines the essential status of the prophetic Sunnah as the second source of Islamic legislation and as an explanation of the Quran, alongside an overview of Sunan al-Tirmidhi and its historical commentaries Sharh Sunan al-Tirmidhi -…+1. In discussing previous commentaries, al-Khudayr highlights notable works such as those by Ibn Sayyid al-Nas (completed by al-Hafiz al-Iraqi) and Abu Bakr ibn al-Arabi Sharh Sunan al-Tirmidhi -….

Content and Methodology

The commentary systematically covers the individual chapters and narrations of Abwab al-Taharah, addressing topics such as:

• The necessity of ritual purity for prayer and the virtues of ablution (wudu) Sharh Sunan al-Tirmidhi -…+1.
• Etiquette of relieving oneself, facing the qiblah, and cleansing with stones and water (istinja) Sharh Sunan al-Tirmidhi -…+1.
• The description and specifics of the Prophet's ﷺ ablution, including washing limbs, running wet fingers through fingers and toes (takhlil), and the toothstick (siwak) Sharh Sunan al-Tirmidhi -…+1.
• Nullifiers of ablution, including sleep, touching private parts, and dietary factors such as consuming camel meat Sharh Sunan al-Tirmidhi -…+1.
• Rulings governing various types of water, leftover water, dry ablution (tayammum), and menstruation (hayd) Sharh Sunan al-Tirmidhi -…+1.

In each lesson, al-Khudayr reads the transmission chain (isnad) and text (matn) of the hadith, provides biographical evaluations (jarh wa-ta'dil) of the narrators, resolves ambiguities regarding names and patronymics, and evaluates narrator reliability and authenticity Sharh Sunan al-Tirmidhi -…+1. He also examines al-Tirmidhi's specific terminology (such as hasan sahih and gharib), elaborates on the corroborating narrations referenced in the formula "and in the chapter from..." (wa-fi al-bab 'an...), and details the differing legal positions of early scholars, such as Sufyan al-Thawri, Malik ibn Anas, al-Shafi'i, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, and Ishaq ibn Rahwayh Sharh Sunan al-Tirmidhi -…+1. In addition to textual exposition, the lessons periodically include answers to questions asked by attendees regarding hadith methodology, printed editions, and juristic matters Sharh Sunan al-Tirmidhi -…+1.