An Introduction to the Hadith

An Introduction to the lfadïth John Burton

EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY PRESS

Cl John Burton, 1994 Edinburgh University Press Ltd 22 George Square, Edinburgh Reprinted 2001 Set in Linotron Tromp Medieval by Koinonia Ltd, Bury, and printed in Great Britain by Antony Rowe Ltd, Eastboume A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN ISBN

0 7486 0350 6 (cased) 0 7486 0435 9 (paper)

Contents SYSTEM OF TRANSLITERATION

vii

INTRODUCTION Hadlth Studies

ix

1

1 The Mission of the Prophet

1

The Makkan Period TheHijra

6

2 The Islamic Tradition The Hadith

17 29

3 The Political Dimension of the Hadlth

36

4 The Study of the Hadlth

55 55 58 59 66 67

Pure Exegesis Applied Exegesis: 'Umar's 'Reading' Prayer Fas ting Temporary Marriage: mut' a The Use of Dyestuffs Marriage during the Pilgrimage The Penalty for Adultery

5 The Theological Dimension of the Hadith Moses Confronts Adam The Beatifie Vision Miracles Assorted Ethical Statements Echo es

6 The Verification of the Hadith The Classification of the Hadiths The Appearance of the isnàd 7 The }Jadïth Collections

77

78 81 92 94 96 97

101 103 106 110 116 119

Examples of Procedure The Application of the Experts' Rules Confused Hadiths The Fabrication of Hadiths

v

127 130 137 144

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE HADTTH

8

The Western Approach to the l:ladïth Shafi'I and the 'Sources of Knowledge'

148 153

9

Conclusions: iimâ' (Consensus) versus sunna The Assessment of the J:Iadïths

157 169

EPILOGUE

178

NOTES

182

GLOSSARY

197

BŒLIOGRAPHY

203

FURTHER READING

205

INDEX

207

vi

System of Transliteration CONSONANTS

• b

'-

t


th

+

j;

t

~

~

gh

t.

f

..;

q

J

k

~

h

t:

kh

t

d

J

n

u

dh

.s

h

.A

r

J

w

J

y


J rn

z

J

s

V"

sh

V"

~

~

"J>

t

..b

3

.

r

in pause: -a otherwise: -at

VOWELS

Short vowels

Long vowels

fatha

a

Doubled

•'

uww (final: ü) :J a /