Usool Al-Hadeeth: The Methodology of Hadith Evaluation

by Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips

The science of Hadeeth is an independent Islaamic science which is not understood by many today. Their ignorance has led them to reject the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). This text covers all of the most important areas of the discipline of Hadeeth in a simplified language and with sufficient examples.

Dr. Bilal Philips writes: "The Prophet’s sayings and actions were primarily based on revelation from Allah and, as such, must be considered a fundamental source of guidance second only to the Qur’an."

According to Dr. Philips, the Hadith, the record of these sayings and actions, plays a vital role in that it transmits revelation, tafseer (exegesis of the Qur’an), Islamic law, and the Islamic moral ideal. For instance, the Prophet’s "...character and social interactions became prime examples of moral conduct for Muslims. Consequently, the daily life of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) as recorded in the hadith represents an ideal code of conduct. It is largely due to the science of hadith that the final message of Islam has been preserved in its original purity for all times."

In Usool al-Hadeeth, the reader will embark on a course of study that will, Allah willing, enable him or her to make critical and intelligent use of the body of Hadith literature in his or her daily life.

Genres: Islam, Religion

246 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips was born in Jamaica, but grew up in Canada where he accepted Islam in 1972. He completed a diploma in Arabic and a B.A. from the College of Theology (Usool-ud-Deen) at the Islamic University of Madeenah in 1979. At the University of Riyadh, College of Education, he completed a M.A. in Islamic Theology in 1985 and in the department of Islamic Studies at the University of Wales, U.K. he also completed a Ph.D. in Islamic Theology in 1994. He taught Islamic Education and Arabic in private schools in Riyadh for over ten years and for the past three year he has been lecturing M.Ed. students in the Islamic Studies department of Shariff Kabunsuan Islamic University in Cotabato City, Mindanao, Philippines. Since 1994 he has founded and directed The Islamic Information Center in Dubai, U.A.E. and the Department of Foreign Languages at Dar al Fatah Islamic Press in Sharjah, U.A.E. ' to 'Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips was born in Kingston, Jamaica, but grew up in Canada where he accepted Islam in 1972. He completed a diploma in Arabic and a B.A. from the College of Theology (Usool-ud-Deen) at the Islamic University of Madeenah in 1979. At the University of Riyadh, College of Education, he completed a M.A. in Islamic Theology in 1985 and in the department of Islamic Studies at the University of Wales, U.K. he also completed a Ph.D. in Islamic Theology in 1994. He taught Islamic Education and Arabic in private schools in Riyadh for over ten years and for the past three years he has been lecturing M.Ed. students in the Islamic Studies department of Shariff Kabunsuan Islamic University in Cotabato City, Mindanao, Philippines. Since 1994 he has founded and directed The Islamic Information Center in Dubai, U.A.E. and the Department of Foreign Languages at Dar al Fatah Islamic Press in Sharjah, U.A.E.

Reviews

[Rania QI · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a few words: a convenient compendium on the sciences of ḥadīth methodology. Definitely not enough to render the layman "knowledgeable," but it's a great start! There's a growing number of Qur`ānists instilling shubuhā [doubts] in young Muslims, defiling the greatest jawāmiʾ of ḥadīth [i.e. Bukhāri and Muslim] and dismissing the credibility of this science; this book does a wonderful job clearing misconceptions about `Uṣūl ul-Ḥadīth in a manner suitable for the layman. Definitely a recommended read!

[Shafi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very concise introduction to Hadith studies. For someone with little to no background on the subject, this is an excellent starting point. It is at times rather superficial and reads more like notes from an intro Hadith class than an actual academic work but for those who simply want a quick read on the subject it is an excellent choice. Jonathan Brown's book on Hadith would be a better choice for someone who wants a more thorough treatment of the subject.

[Arman Firman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book. Concise, can be used as a swift reference. But one won't be able to appreciate hadith studies fully by reading this. I'll suggest Dr Jonathan Brown's book on introduction to Hadith. And after that, if someone reads his Misquoting Muhammad, one will get a very good understanding.

The reader may need to know that this hasn't been written from a neutral stance. Dr Phillips writes the book from a salafi perspective.

[Abe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A straightforward and concise introduction to what ahadith are and how Islamic scholars have used, compiled, and graded them throughout time. I would recommend this book as an introductory hadith book to any beginning student of Islam. I really enjoyed the last chapter about the equal participation of female scholars in hadith sciences throughout Islamic history.

I have some quibbles, mostly about chapter 7. He goes a little overboard praising necessarily each and every ahad hadith and commits some logical fallacies in his arguments. For example, he quotes Qur'an 49:6:
ﻳٰۤﺎَﻳُّﻬَﺎ اﻟَّﺬِﻳۡﻦَ اٰﻣَﻨُﻮۡۤا اِﻥۡ ﺟَﺎٓءَﻛُﻢۡ ﻓَﺎﺳِﻖٌ ۢ ﺑِﻨَﺒَﺎٍ ﻓَﺘَﺒَﻴَّﻨُﻮۡۤا اَﻥۡ ﺗُﺼِﻴۡﺒُﻮۡا ﻗَﻮۡﻣًﺎ ۢ ﺑِﺠَﻬَﺎﻟَﺔٍ ﻓَﺘُﺼۡﺒِﺤُﻮۡا ﻋَﻠٰﻰ ﻣَﺎ ﻓَﻌَﻠۡﺘُﻢۡ ﻧٰﺪِﻣِﻴۡﻦَ
"Believers, if a troublemaker [he translates as 'rebellious evil person'] brings you news, check it first, in case you wrong others unwittingly and later regret what you have done"

He then proceeds to commit the fallacy of affirming the consequent: Because Allah tells the believers to verify information from evil people, believers must NOT have to verify information from other believers. Not only is this nonsense (otherwise why would anyone have ever asked the Prophet [upon him be peace] or ‘A’ishah [after his death] for clarification on something a companion had said?), but it's also logically invalid to conclude this from the verse. Just because |A = B| does not mean |not A = not B|. Of course we should verify any information that comes to us, but we should be particularly careful with information from troublemakers and those who are out to harm us.

I also don't like how he lets Bukhari and Muslim slide with breaks in isnad basically because they otherwise tried so hard to be thorough. This is the fallacy of faulty generalization: the book is overall reliable so the ahadith we can't prove are reliable must also be reliable. The sahih books may be more accurate than others overall, but the same rules should apply universally, otherwise they're not, strictly speaking, rules.

[Rosey Rouz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good intro to the subject, goes into a lot of detail about the history of the different hadith collections, so its alot of info to take in but its a good reference work for info. I like the bit on women scholars of hadith at the end, just goes to show how women have always played an active role in Islam since day one!

[Ehab Shawky · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best concise books dealing with "Mustalah Al-Hadith," or as the title says...
It was my doorway to understanding a lot about this science; as such, I hold a very high view for this book. Highly recommended for students of the Islamic sciences. Not for laymen.

[Hasina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional. Good breakdown of terminology. Easy to read and comprehend. Especially enjoy the section on female scholars of Hadith (Al Muhaddithāt).

[Tuscany Bernier · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an excellent overview of hadith knowledge.

[Emmanuel Rovithis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good beginner book for young adult or older person.

Covers hujjiyatus sunnah (The proof for following the Sunnah / Hadith)

Basic hadith applications upon Fiqh.

History of Ahadith preservation.