Scholar’s Hive

The purpose of this discussion is to illustrate that the conclusion of a particular Muhaddith is not necessarily final. Neither can it be enforced on others in the event of there being other legitimate opinions on that issue.   The system of grading Hadith is إجتهادى (Ijtihadi); open to difference of opinion. The procedure of classifying the merit of the narrators and the authenticity of the Hadiths is one which …

‘Don’t believe everything you read’ – These were the words of wisdom of the great Shaykh ‘Abdullah Sirajuddin (rahimahullah), the senior Teacher of my Honourable Shaykh, Al-Muhaddith Muhammad ‘Awwamah (may Allah protect him). He offered this advice to Shaykh ‘Awwamah in his early days of study, after he approached his Teacher to clarify a dodgy incident about Imam Bukhari (rahimahullah) which he had just read the night before.

Attending a few gatherings of completion of Hadith books (like the khatm Bukhari) for the purpose of barakah etc is applaudable and encouraged. However, the recent trend of arranging public ‘maqra-ahs’ (also called Hadith Majlis; swift Hadith recitals) of Hadith books, like Sahih Bukhari etc. are indeed beneficial for the scholars, but harmful for the layman who doesn’t have a sound grounding in the basic subjects of the Islamic sciences. Such recitals should be …

The issue of ‘Aqidah has become a contemporary challenge for many muslims world-wide. Many followers of the Ahlus Sunnah have become confused due to their exposure to ‘unapproved’ commentaries on the brief yet marvellous book of Imam Tahawi (rahimahullah) My friend and colleague, Shaykh Fahim Hoosen (may Allah protect him) has done an excellent job in his recent work; a brief english translation and commentary of Al- ‘Aqida Al-Tahawiyya. A …

The following hadith is commonly quoted when emphasising the importance of the sunnah: “Whoever holds of to my sunnah at the time of corruption of my Ummah, will get the reward of a hundred martyrs”

Imam Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hambal (rahimahullah) was born in the year: 164 A.H, and he passed away in the year: 241 A.H. His Sojourn Imam Ahmad (rahimahullah) began his quest for the knowledge of Hadith at the age of 16. He set out for Kufah in the year 183  A.H. and to Basrah in 186 A.H. and to Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah in Makkah in 187 A.H. He went to …

The scholars have enlisted many practices for boosting the memory, however most of these practices are based on experience and are not from the Hadith. There is no harm in practicing upon these as long as one is aware of the above. My Honourable teacher, Al-Muhaddith Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah (may Allah protect him) usually recommends -among other things– the following salat on Nabi (sallalahu ‘alayhi wasallam) to be recited frequently …

Knowledge is attractive and it’s something everybody needs. However, when the correct procedure is not followed, the desired results are lost. The trend of self-study that has become ever so popular in the current times actually contributes to the destruction of pure knowledge. The boom of the internet and its search engines have also contributed to this trend. What follows is an in-depth look at the “Need for a Tutor” …

Some contemporaries, who degrade the Fiqh of the four Imams and their followers, actually do so because they view legitimate “difference of opinion” as evil. This is the reason for which they keep harping on the fact that we need to follow the Quran and Sunnah and not any of the Schools of Fiqh. This is an analysis of their claim. My Honourable Teacher, Al-Muhaddith, Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah (may Allah protect …

Imam Abu Hatim, Muhammad ibn Idris Ar-Razi (رحمه الله) was born in Ray (Tehran –Iran) in the year 195 A.H. and he passed away in the year 277 A.H. Lengthy Sojourn He first set out in search of knowledge at the age of 18. He states in this regard: ” The first time that I had set out  to  acquire  knowledge I remained away from home for 7 years. I …