بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

11 Sha’bān, 1444 AH  (Saturday, 04 March , 2023

Continuing with an overview on all the books written on ‘Ulūm al-Ḥadīth, we have reached passed quarter of the eighth century. 

The next book is:

Al-Manhal ar-Rawī Fī Mukhtaṣar ‘Ulūm al-Ḥadīth an-Nabawī

‘Allāmah Badr ad-Dīn, Abū ‘Abdillāh, Muḥammad ibn Ibrāhīm Ibn Jamā’ah (639 AH – 733 AH) wrote this summary. Although this is meant to be a summary of Muqaddimah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ, ‘Allāmah Badr ad-Dīn Ibn Jamā’ah refined and changed the entire book of ‘Allāmah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ. 

The author put the book in an order and sequence that he was the first to invent. He passed away just before 100 years after ‘Allāmah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ completed the book and he changed the entire sequence. That means that it was almost a century after the completion of Muqaddimah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ that the first person decided to alter the sequence of the contents of Muqaddimah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ. Prior to this, no one had any issue with the order and sequence of the book.

‘Allāmah Badr ad-Dīn Ibn Jamā’ah summarized the entire book of ‘Allāmah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ by presenting the points in a more concise manner and in less words, and also by deleting many examples. 

He further upgraded the book by adding lots of information from his own side. He basically refined and improved the entire book. He amended the book to such an extent that it could be even referred to as a new work all together.

He commenced with an introduction that explains some basic terminologies, such as: Matn, Sanad, Isnād, Ḥadīth, Khabar etc. He then divided Ḥadīth into Mutawātir and Āḥād and discusses these topics.

The first section is about the Matn and everything related to that. He categorised this into three Aqsām: Ṣaḥīḥ, Ḥasan, Ḍa īf. He explains each of these in detail and he placed these into 30 Anwā’.

The second section is about a Sanad. He put this into eleven Anwā’.

The third section is on the method of obtaining a narration and the etiquette of a student. This is in six Anwā’.

The fourth is about the narrators. This is in 21 Anwā’.

In this manner, he divided the science into 68 Anwā’, adding three more Anwā’ to the 65 of ‘Allāmah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ. 

Although there are many prints of this book, unfortunately, there are no good prints (probably one of the Takhaṣsuṣ students can work on it).

It was printed with the research of Muḥy ad-Dīn ‘Abdur Raḥmān Ramaḍān in 1395 / 1975. It was also printed about six years ago by Dār Tayba al-Khaḍrā in Makkah. This is with the Taḥqīq of Dr Muṣṭafā ibn ‘Abdus Salām. This print is replete with typos and errors. This print is in 264 pages. 

Al-Khulāṣah Fī ‘Ulūm al-Ḥadīth 

This was written by ‘Allāmah Ḥuṣayn ibn Muḥammad aṭ-Ṭībī (d. 743 AH). 

The author provides a small introduction where he defines Isnād, Ḥadīth and Khabar. Thereafter, he brings what he terms as Furū’ and he dedicates a full page for what he calls: Al-Maqāṣid. Under these headings, he discusses other issues that are not in any of the prior books. In this book, he summarized three books: Muqadimmah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ, Taqrīb of Imām Nawawī and Al-Manhal ar-Rawī. He also added points from Jāmi’ al-Uṣūl and other books. 

‘Allāmah Ṭībī preferred to follow the sequence of Al-Manhal ar-Rawī. But he tried to categorize things more. He brought a broad category, and put subcategories thereunder.

Just at ‘Allāmah Ibn Jamā’ah took the liberty of altering the book of ‘Allāmah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ, ‘Allāmah Ṭībī edited Al-Manhal ar-Rawī. He dropped off some statements, added his own, changed the wording and edited it as he pleased.

‘Allāmah Suyūṭī quotes from this in Tadrīb ar-Rāwī, and Mullā ‘Alī Qārī referred to this book a few times in his commentary of Nuzhat an-Naḍar.

It was published in 1391 / 1971 with the Taḥqīq Sayyad Ṣubḥī in 178 pages. It was also printed in 2009 with the research of Abū ‘Āṣim Shawwāmī, and this is in 214 pages.

Click here for the PDF.

We will, in shā Allāh, refer to the book in our explanations of Muqaddimah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ.

• • ‘Allāmah Abūl Ḥasan al-Jurjānī (d. 816 AH) condensed this book, and it is famously known as Mukhtaṣar al-Jurjānī. 
  • Mawlānā ‘Abdul Ḥayy Laknawī then wrote a detailed commentary, and this is known as: Ḍafr al-Amānī Fī Mukhtaṣar al-Jurjānī.  Click here for the PDF.
  • Shaykh Taqiyy ad-Dīn an-Nadwī first published this book, but then Shaykh ‘Abdul Fattāḥ Abū Ghuddah researched it again and published it. 

We hope to quote from this in every chapter, in shā Allāh.

This is now exactly 100 years since the demise of ‘Allāmah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ, and one can easily notice the vast amount of literature that has already been written on Muqaddimah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāh. More importantly, we can see how ‘Allāmah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ revived the interest in Ḥadīth. In his introduction, he speaks about the decline of the desire to study Ḥadīth and how that prompted him to write his book. The book created such a revival that Ḥadīth studied to flourish again, and now there was a renewed passion for this noble science.

Sharḥ Manḍūmah Ibn Farḥ

We spoke about the Gharāmī last week. It is those few lines of poetry which could be confused as a poem of love. The reality is that it comprises of the terminologies.

‘Allāmah Abū ‘Abdillāh, Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad ibn ‘Abdul Hādī al-Maqdisī (705 AH – 744 AH) wrote the first commentary ever on the Gharāmī.

This commentary is very short and concise. He presents a commentary in just a few lines, and hardly ever presents any examples.

It was published in 2006 in the Majmū’ Rasā’il of Ibn ‘Abdil Hādī. This is with the Tahqīq of Ḥusayn ibn ‘Ukāshah. It is in 20 pages.

Al-Kāfī Fī ‘Ulūm al-Ḥadīth

Abūl Ḥasan, Tāj ad-Dīn, ‘Alīyy ibn ‘Abdillāh at-Tibrīzī (677 AH – 746 AH) summarised Muqaddimah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ.

The author kept all the Anwā’ of Muqaddimah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ, but he changed the sequence and order of Muqaddimah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ. In doing this, it is noticeable that he really gave this a lot of thought; by arranging everything in a very precise manner. He also added a lot of new information; whether it is additional principles and concepts, or whether it was expanding upon the information of Muqaddimah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ by presenting new examples and additional commentary.

This book contains almost all of the additional points that Imām Nawawī added in Al-Irshād, and also all of the main points that ‘Allāmah Ibn Daqīq al-‘Īd added in Al-Iqtirāḥ. Besides that, ‘Allāmah At-Tabrīzī even went directly to the sources of ‘Allāmah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ and gathered information from there. 

He has four Abwāb (chapters) in this book. The first is regarding the text. Under this, he discusses Ṣaḥīḥ, Ḥasan, Ḍa’īf and its various types, and things related to the occurrence of a narration. 

The second Bāb is divided into three Fuṣūl (subcategories). In the first, he discusses al-Jarḥ wat-Ta’dīl, in the second he discusses about Tadlīs and Musalsal, and in the third, he elaborates on ‘Ālī and Nāzil. 

The third Bāb is for the methods of obtaining and transmitting a narration, laws pertaining to writing and documenting Aḥādīth, and the etiquette of a student and a teacher. 

The final chapter is about the names of narrators and the Ṭabaqāt (stages) of the Ḥuffāẓ. 

The book was printed by Dār al-Athariyyah in Jordan, in 2008, with the research of Mashūr ibn Ḥasan Āl Salmān, and it is in 965 pages.

Click here for the PDF.

Our plan was and still is to teach this book after Ramaḍān, in shā Allāh. 

Al-Mūqiḍah (not directly based on Muqaddimah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ)

The great expert of ‘Ilm ar-Rijāl, ‘Allāmah Abū ‘Abdillāh, Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad adh-Dhahabī (673 AH – 748 AH) wrote this summary on al-Iqtirāḥ. Despite being one of the greatest experts in ‘Ulūm al-Ḥadīth, this is the only book that ‘Allāmah Dhahabī wrote in Muṣṭalaḥ and Uṣūl. Most of his other contributions are in the field of narrators and al-Jarḥ wat-Tad’īl.

The title of this book is: al-Muqiḍah Fī ‘Ilm Muṣṭalaḥ al-Ḥadīth. 

Although, it is so concise – it is a Muhtaṣar of a Mukhtaṣar – it contains some rare pearls and important. Despite this, the author only mentioned 24 Anwā’

This book is fine for students, but it has to be studied under a teacher, since there are many points that he mentioned that has to be critically analysed, and the verdicts of others have to be accepted.

There are various prints of this great book. The best print was published with Taḥqīq of Shaykh ‘Abdul Fattāḥ Abū Ghuddah in 1405 / 1985, and it is in 220 pages.

Click here for the PDF.

We will study this alongside our lessons of al-Kāfī, in shā Allāh. 

Until this point it can be see that there were many scholars who summarised and condensed Muqaddimah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ on the one hand, but then also included more information on the other hand.

Al-Muntakhab fī ‘Ulūm al-Ḥadīth

‘Alā ad-Dīn ‘Alīyy ibn ‘Uthmān at-Turkumānī (683 AH – 750 AH) wrote this summary, and this indeed is a real summary. It is a condensed version of Muqaddimah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ.

It is the best summary of Muqaddimah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ and it is written by a Ḥanafī Muḥaddith. The author understood well what a summary means, and hence, he condenses the text without adding anything from his side or presenting any commentary of his own. He follows the same sequence as ‘Allāmah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ. He basically mentions every point that ‘Allāmah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ mentioned in lesser words and in a clearer way. This indeed is what a summary ought to be; presenting everything in less words, making it easier to understand. It is such that if a student studies this book, he will easily be able to write an Imtiḥān on Muqaddimah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ. The reason is simple: each and every point/principle/ruling/benefit that is in Muqaddimah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāh is in this book; just in shorter and clearer words.

It is actually a brilliant prose to memorise, because it covers all the information of Muqaddimah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ.

Under his entry in Raf’ al-Iṣr, Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar (may Allāh Ta’ālā have mercy on him) mentions:

علي بن عثمان بن إبراهيم بن مصطفى بن سليمان المَارِدِيني، علاء الدين المعروف بابن التُّركماني الحنفي، من المائة الثامنة.

ولد سنة ثلاث وثمانين وستمائة. وولي الحكم بعد أن أسَنَّ فِي شوال سنة ثمان وأربعين فِي سلطنة المظفر حاجي ابن الناصر. أرسل إِلَيْهِ فألبس الخلعة من غير أن يتقدم لذلك إشاعة. فدخل الصالحية عَلَى الزين البسطامي، فلما عرف الزين بأنه قرر موضعه، خرج من مكانه. وباشر أحسن مباشرة.

وكان كثير الإفضال، مع مشاركة فِي علم الحديث. واختصر كتاب ابن الصلاح اختصاراً حسناً. سمعت شيخنا العراقي يقول: إنه أوفى بمقصودة. قال: ولا نعلم أحداً ساواه فِي ذَلِكَ. (رفع الإصر عن قضاة مصر – ص: 278)

“ʿAlī bin ʿUthmān bin Ibrāhīm bin Muṣṭafā bin Sulaymān al-Māridīnī, ʿAlā ad-Dīn, famously known as Ibn Turkumānī al-Ḥanafī in the eighth century.

He was born in the year 683. 

He attained power after he became of age in Shawwāl, 648 during the reign of Muḍhaffar Ḥājī Ibn an-Nāṣir. He sent out for him, he donned the robe he was gifted before any rumour could be brought forward. He entered Ṣālihiyyah by Zayn al-Basāṭmī, when Zayn realised that he determined his place, he left his place and welcomes him gladly. 

He abridged the book of Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ in a brilliant way. I heard our teacher, Al-Irāqī saying: “He did justice to the topics.” He also said: “We do not know of anyone who matched him in that.”” (Raf’ al-Iṣr, page: 278)

Bear in mind that this is coming from no ordinary person. ‘Allāmah ‘Irāqī dedicated decades of his life to the book of ‘Allāmah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ.

The title of this abridged book is: Al-Muntakhab fī ‘Ulūm al-Ḥadīth and it is published by al-‘Ulwān and Dār al-Bashāir with the Taḥqīq of Dr. Bashār al-Khalf. 

It was also researched and edited by ‘Āmir Ḥasan Ṣabrī at-Tamīmī, and the Bahrain government published this. It is in 143 pages.

Click here for the PDF.

Being the best summary, this is a book that we recommend one tries to invest in. We were very strongly considering to teach this in place of Muqaddimah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ (since it covers everything), but due to the greatness and sublime status of the original book, Muqaddimah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ, we then thought against it.

Jāmi’ at-Tahṣīl fī Aḥkām al-Marāsīl.

This does not cover all the principles of Aḥādīth. Rather, it is a book dedicated to the laws of missing links in the chains. It is the best book on these principles and the most important book on these rulings, and hence we are making special mention of it. 

The author is ‘Allāmah Abū Sa’īd, Khalīl ibn Sayf ad-Dīn Kaykaldī al-‘Alāi (694 AH – 761 AH).

This book is arranged in six chapters.

It has been published by ‘Ālam Kutub in Beirut in 1978 AH. That is with the Taḥqīq of Ḥamdī ‘Abdul Majīd. It is in 349 pages. 

Click here for the PDF.

We will, in shā Allāh, go through most of this book when we reach those chapters in Muqaddimah Ibn aṣ-Salāḥ. 

Ikhtiṣār ‘Ulūm al-Ḥadīth 

This is the summary of Muqaddimah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ written by ‘Allāmah Abūl Fidā, Ismā‘īl ibn ‘Umar ibn Kathīr. It is a summary of Muqaddimah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ and it follows the same order as the original book, despite the author objecting on the order in the beginning.

‘Allāmah Ibn Kathīr really condensed the Muqaddimah and made this very short and concise. He done this by deleting all the examples, and by adding only very few comments. He starts the comments with the words: Qultu. As such, it becomes like a Matn (text).

This is published with the Taḥqīq of Māhir Yāsin al-Faḥl in 1431. It was printed by Dār al-Maymān. It is in 458 pages.

Click here for the PDF.

We plan to study it alongside Muqaddimah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ.

• • Shaykh Aḥmad Shākir wrote a commentary on this book titled: al-Bā’ith al-Ḥathīth. We will refer to this book, in shā Allāh. 
  • Shaykh Ibrāhīm Lāhīm wrote a commentary, and we will refer to his too.

Iṣlāḥ Kitāb Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ

This was written by ‘Alā ad-Dīn Abū ‘Abdillāh Mughulṭāī ibn Qalīj al-Bakajrī (689 AH – 762 AH) . 

Whilst delivering lecture on Muqaddimah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ, the author thoroughly scrutinized the text and passed remarks and raised objections on certain points mentioned in the Muqaddimah. At the request of his students, he then penned all of these observations. 

The name of the book is: Iṣlāḥ Kitāb ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ. This is the very first Nukat that has been written. Although the book is so concise, the author quotes from 140 books; thanks to the author’s expansive library.

This book become the basis for many books that came thereafter. The authors of the other Nukats attempted to respond to his objections. Some scholars even plagiarized and ‘stole’ from this book.

It was printed in 2008 with the research of Nāṣir ‘Abdil ‘Azīz. It was print is in two volumes over 1310 pages. It was published by Aḍwā as-Salah. This print also has a lot of details on the life of ‘Allāmah Mughulṭāī, which a student of Ḥadīth should read, especially if he is a Ḥanafi.

It was also researched by Shaykh Abū ‘Abdillāh Muḥy ad-Dīn al-Bakkārī in 2007 and it was published by al-Maktabah al-Islāmiyyah. This is the copy I have.

Click here for the PDF.

We will try to quote every objection. The responses given in the subsequent works will also be analyzed.

Nukat of Zarkashī

The author is Abū ‘Abdillāh, Muḥammad ibn ‘Abdillāh ibn Bahādur az-Zarkashī (745 AH – 794 AH). This is the second Nukat written on Muqaddimah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ. It could be correctly described as a commentary of selected portions of Muqaddimah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāh. 

The author took it upon himself to:

1.Explain the pronunciation of difficult words and names.

2.Define difficult terms

3.Elaborate on what is difficult to understand

4.Respond to the objections of ‘Allāmah Mughulṭāi and others

5.Mention the boundaries and qualifications of what was mentioned with no restrictions

6.Complete topics that are incomplete in Muqaddimah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ.

7.Clarify mistakes of the original book.

8.Analyze and raise objection (on ‘Allāmah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ and others)  

9.Throw out thoughts and present different angles to view the point

10.Mention the correct opinion when there are differences

11.Include other important points

12.Present numerous other quotations

13.Add 13 more Anwā’ to the 65 of ‘Allāmah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ

This book became a basis for many books written thereafter. Senior Muḥaddithīn pirated many snippets and lots of points of this Nukat.

The summary is that this become a very important book of ‘Ulūm al-Ḥadīth, and we will refer to it for every lesson, in shā Allāh.

• • Unfortunately, the book is incomplete
  • Fortunately, all the important sections are covered.

It has been published by Dār Aḍwā as-Salaf in 2008 with the research of Dr Zayn al-‘Ābidīn ibn Muḥammad. It is in three volumes. 

The first volume is research of the editor, which is dedicated to Imām Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāḥ and his book. The second and third volume are the Nukat. In total it is in 1727 pages, and the second and third volumes total to 1334 pages. Unfortunately, this print is filled with typos and even blatant errors. May Allāh allow someone else to print this important book with good Taḥqīq.

Click here for Volume 1 and here for Volume 2.

Sharḥ ‘Ilal at-Tirmīdhī (Not directly linked to Muqaddimah Ibn aṣ-Ṣalāh) 

This is written by Abūl Faraj, ‘Abdur Raḥmān ibn Aḥmad ibn Rajab al-Ḥanbalī (736 AH – 795 AH).

We mentioned previously that Imām Tirmīdhi wrote two books: al-‘Ilal aṣ-Ṣaghīr and al-‘Ilal al-Kabīr. ‘Allāmah Ibn Rajab wrote this commentary of ‘Ilal aṣ-Ṣaghīr. In this book, he furnishes many examples, and he provided lots of quotations from scholars of the first three centuries. That makes it one very important book in ‘Ulūm al-Ḥadīth, due to which we will quote from it quite often.

It was printed in 1987 with the Taḥqīq of Hammām ‘Abdur Raḥim Sa‘īd and it was published by Maktabah al-Manār in Jordan. This print is in two volumes and it is in 1016 pages.

Shaykh Nūr ad-Dīn ‘Itr researched and edited it. This has been published by Dār al-Minhāj and Dār as-Salām. This is the copy that we will quote from.

Click here for the PDF.

May Allāh Taʿālā have mercy on them all.

سبحانك اللهم وبحمدك ، أشهد أن لا إله إلا أنت ، أستغفرك وأتوب إليك