List of Abbreviations (ix)
List of Tables and Illustrations (xi)
Tables (xi)
Maps (xi)
Figures (xii)
Transliteration and Translation (xiii)
Notes on Transliteration (xiii)
Translator’s Note (xv)
Preface to the English Translation (xix)
Preface (xxi)
Chapter One. Introduction to Ḥadīth (1)
I. Basic Terminology of Ḥadīth and Sunnah (1)
A. Definition of Ḥadīth (1)
B. The Structure of Ḥadīth (10)
C. Semantic Neighbours: Khabar and Athar (11)
D. The Relationship between Ḥadīth and Sunnah (13)
E. The Importance of Ḥadīth and Sunnah (18)
F. The Importance of Ḥadīth (30)
II. Key Terminology (37)
III. Review Questions (38)
Chapter Two. The Early Period of Narration (39)
I. Ḥadīth Before Tadwīn: Ḥadīth Narration During the Period of the Companions (39)
A. Definition of the Companions (40)
B. The Ṣaḥābah’s Narration and Understanding of Ḥadīth (44)
C. The Scholarly Centres Where the Companions Settled (77)
II. The Nature of Ḥadīth Narration in the First Century: Oral-Written Narration (92)
A. Oral Tradition versus Written Tradition (96)
B. Examples of Early Written Narrations (101)
III. The Events of the Fitnah (Great Dissension) and the Beginning of Isnād (112)
IV. Key Terminology (118)
V. Review Questions (119)
Chapter Three. The Emergence of Ḥadīth Narration and the Science of Ḥadīth (121)
I. The Systematic Narration and Compilation of Ḥadīth (121)
A. The Compilation of Ḥadīth (Tadwīn) (121)
B. The Systematisation of Ḥadīth Narration (124)
II. The Classification of Ḥadīth (Taṣnīf) (128)
III. A Key Factor in the Spread of Ḥadīths: Scholarly Journeys (Riḥlahs) (129)
A. Journeys Made for the Sake of a Single Ḥadīth or a Fiqh Question (130)
B. Systematic Ḥadīth Journeys (131)
IV. The Use of Isnād in the Second Century and the Emergence of the Science of Jarḥ and Taʿdīl (135)
A. Promoting the Narration of Ḥadīths with Their Isnāds (135)
B. The Investigation of Isnād and the Systematisation of the Science of Jarḥ and
Taʿdīl (137)
C. Causes for the Systematisation of the Science of Jarḥ and Taʿdīl (140)
D. The Use of Isnād in Books and Booklets Written in the Second Century AH (142)
V. The Development of Schools of Thought (146)
A. The Traditionalists (Ahl al-Ḥadīth) and the Rationalists (Ahl ar-Raʾy) and Their Main Distinctions (146)
B. The Emergence of the Muʿtazilites and Points of Contention with Ahl al-Ḥadīth (157)
VI. Key Terminology (161)
VII. Review Questions (162)
Chapter Four. The Jāmiʿ Works Among the Six [Canonical] Books (163)
I. An Overview of the Third Century (163)
A. The Use of Ḥadīth and Isnād during the Third Century (164)
B. The Jurisprudential Approach in Third-Century Ḥadīth Books (166)
C. Debates on Matters of Creed in the Ḥadīth Books of the Third Century (167)
II. Al-Bukhārī and his Al-Jāmiʿu Aṣ-Ṣaḥīḥ (171)
A. An Overview of al-Bukhārī’s Life (171)
B. The Works of al-Bukhārī (176)
III. Muslim B. Al-Ḥajjāj and his Ṣaḥīḥ (196)
A. An Overview of Muslim b. al-Ḥajjāj’s Life (196)
B. The Works of Muslim (200)
IV. Key Issues Related to the Ṣaḥīḥayn (213)
A. Comparing Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (213)
B. Criticisms Directed at the Ṣaḥīḥs of al-Bukhārī and Muslim (216)
V. At-Tirmiṯẖī and his Jāmiʿ (Comprehensive Collection) (218)
A. An Overview of at-Tirmiṯẖī’s Life (218)
B. At-Tirmiṯẖī’s Works (222)
VI. Key Terminology (233)
VII. Review Questions (234)
Chapter Five. The Sunan Among The Six [Canonical] Books (237)
I. Abū Dāwūd and His Sunan (238)
A. An Overview of Abū Dāwūd’s Life (238)
B. Abū Dāwūd’s Works (242)
II. An-Nasāī and His Sunan (256)
A. An Overview of an-Nasāī’s Life (256)
B. An-Nasāī’s Works (260)
III. Ibn Mājah and His Sunan (273)
A. An Overview of Ibn Mājah’s Life (273)
B. The Works of Ibn Mājah (275)
IV. Key Terminology (285)
V. Review Questions (286)
Conclusion (291)
Bibliography (301)
Index (325)
