Thursday 9 January 2014

Hadith, Doubt and Orientalism - What is the Reality?

Doubt has been cast upon the corpus of Hadith by many orientalists as well as some (modernist) Muslims. It is not uncommon to hear that "the Hadith were only written down over 300 years after the death of the Prophet (SAW) so they are not reliable". Unfortunately, many well-intentioned Muslims also fall into this type of thinking because they have no real idea or understanding of the history of Hadith and the sophisticated methods of verifying and preserving Hadith - both in text and in meaning. The science of Hadith is truly one of the most advanced and highly developed sciences in the history of mankind. Yet many of us are confused because we are unaware of this science and we do not understand the technicalities of the subject.


"There is a reason why, when you read a very technical text, you don’t understand it. Even if most of the words used are words you are familiar with, even if the words are arranged in ways that are familiar to you, there are enough technical words in the text to make the matter of it incomprehensible. Those specialised, technical words do not connect with anything, they do not refer to anything, known to you in your world.If this technical text happens to be an instruction about what to do, or if it is an explanation of how something works so that you can use that thing properly, then somebody will have to explain any technical terms in the text. After that, there is a chance that you may follow the instruction correctly, or make the thing work properly. But if you have a teacher who both speaks and gives you a practical demonstration, the chance is much stronger that you will get the matter right"- Shaykh Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi

There is no doubt that the main reason why people cast doubt upon the Hadith is because they have learnt or heard things from improper sources. Even if one does not actually doubt the Hadith, they may have found themselves in situations where they could not defend the Hadith when it has been attacked. There are also situations where people may think some Hadith to be irrational when they are not. All these situations arise from a lack of correct understanding on the subject.

The seminar coming up this weekend on the book Nukhbat Al-Fikar of Imam Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani (on the Principles of Hadith and its Classification by Hadith Experts) explained by Muhaddith Shaykh Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi will demonstrate the reality of misinformation and misunderstanding of Hadith in a practical way through selected examples from both major and minor Hadith collections.

A unique and priceless opportunity to learn straight from a Muhaddith to gain a clear understanding of the amazing science behind the collection, preservation and study of Hadith. Only one day to go for this spiritually uplifting and intellectually liberating weekend seminar - please sign up immediately.



MEOC - Cambridge Islamic Sciences Worldwide Presents

Classical Islamic Texts Series - Principles of Hadith
Nukhbat al-Fikar fi Mustalaha Ahl-Athar & Nuzhat Al-Nadhar
Chosen Thoughts on The Hadith Classification of Hadith Specialists (Introduction to Principles of Hadith) of Imam Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani (773-852 AH) and his own commentary Nuzhat Al-Nadhr

Weekend Ijaza Seminar in London & Online Worldwide with Detailed Commentary by Muhaddith Shaykh Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi (Oxford)

Includes Ijaza For The Text & Hadith Musalsal Bil-Awwaliyyah

Date: Weekend 11-12 January 2014 | Time: 9.30AM - 6.00PM

Venue: Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS

Online: Worldwide - Live & Recorded Access

Usul al-Hadith (principles of hadith) is a highly developed discipline in Islam. It deals with the methodology of source criticism of hadith. Many works dealing with this science have been produced since the early period of Islam. Nuzhat al-Nazar Sharh Nukhbat al Fikar by Hafiz Ahmad ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani, the 9th/15th century hadith master, is a very famous text in this field. It is prescribed in the curriculum of every madrasah and hadith centre. This seminar will cover the study of Ibn Hajar’s book with detailed commentary and practical examples from famous collections. Every student will receive a signed certificate and Ijazah from Shaykh Akram for Nukhbat al Fikar and hadith musalsal bil-awwaliyyah linking them to the Prophet (SAW).

Please see video below for a short introduction.

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Special Offer: Early Bird Discount, Student & Group Tickets, Scholarship Tickets

If this is the first time you are coming across this course and you found the discounts ended then please email courses@meoc.org.uk for a new discount code. 

www.CambridgeIslamicSciences.com  << Click Here To Register

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Testimonials

"How magnificent to have spent a weekend in the company of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam and his companions, reading and studying their ahadeeth. I feel as though I was transported to their times and have returned with renewed strength and resolve to continue the work we need to do in the ‘Daar ud-Da’wah’ we live in. I am sitting here with Ijaazah in hand feeling honoured that Allah allowed me to be a student of Sheikh Akram Nadwi and through him find some connection with some of the great scholars of our past. From his poignant scholarly anecdotes, to his emphatic exhortations, punctuated with Urdu and Persian poetry; studying with the Sheikh is a truly enriching experience. I’m actually learning a lot from him both about rectifying myself and the most important focal points for that and rectifying some of the causes of the downfall of our Ummah today. Without resorting to alienating any particular group or school of thought, the Sheikh is not afraid to hold a mirror up to what needs changing in our communities and in our times. I liked the balance of holistic spiritual principles and finer technical details Sheikh also discussed and his lessons are suitable for serious students of knowledge and people who are in the early stages of their journey. I look forward to future courses. I found the crèche facility to be very useful. I would have found it very difficult to attend without it. The venue was great and respected the privacy of brothers and sisters. May Allah make knowledge a proof for us and not against us. Ameen." - Fatima Barkatullah, London

"Of all the scholars I have had the opportunity to study with, I have found Shaikh Akram Nadwi to be the closest, in knowledge, manners and teaching, to how I would imagine some of the great Hadith scholars of the past would have been. He has a vast knowledge of Qur'an, Hadith and Fiqh, a down-to-earth, humble, approachable style, and great teaching ability. His classes are not just beneficial from a learning perspective, but also to marvel at the awe-inspiring wealth of knowledge of our scholars masha Allah. His 57 volume work going through the biographies of some 8,500 women scholars of Hadith is a monumental endeavour. The mere fact of its existence can be a major talking point in discussion with Muslims and non-Muslims, and is almost a stand-alone proof of Islam's unparalleled wealth of female scholarship." - Dr Omar Mahroo, Cambridge

www.CambridgeIslamicSciences.com  << Click Here To Register

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