ISL232 Usul al Hadith: Science of Prophetic Narrations (8)

CSU Discipline Area: Theology (THEOL)

Duration: One session

Abstract:

This subject provides students with an introduction to the place of hadith in Islamic scholarship. The methods and rules related to the authentication and classification of hadith narrations in canonical texts together with the application of this methodology will be addressed. This subject will also cover the history of the development of the science of hadith critique.

+ Subject Availability Modes and Locations

Session 1
Distance *	United Theological College

*This subject offering contains a residential school. Please view following information for further details.

Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: ISL232

Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:

be able to describe the difference between hadith and Sunnah
be able to demonstrate an understanding of the different phases in the collating of hadith literature in the first three centuries of Islam
be able to discuss critically the methods used to classify hadith
be able to demonstrate an understanding of the hadith types and their definitions
be able to differentiate the level of authenticity between hadith narrations

Syllabus:

The subject will cover the following topics:

Distinction between hadith and Sunnah
Introduction to Ulum al-Hadith - The Science of Hadith Studies
Identification phase of hadith
Collection phase of hadith
Classification phase of hadith
Six canonical hadith collections
Refinement phase of hadith
Hadith types and their definitions
Content (matn)analysis of hadith
Critical analysis of chains of transmission (sanad)
Methods in transmission of hadith from master to student
Criteria for hadith critique and their narrators

Residential School

This subject contains a optional 2 day residential school.

The purpose of the optional residential school is to provide an opportunity for exploration of the overall coursework covered. In addition to content review, this part of the course aims to facilitate an interactive session between the teaching academics and students.

Students will be involved in small group discussion, lectures, visual presentations and one-on-one sessions with the subject coordinator and lecturers to address any issues that may arise. Material and summary content covered in this session will be a valuable contribution towards the major assessment tasks.

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