Hadith Literature: Its Origin, Development & Special Features (Islamic Texts Society)

This is an excellent book that now may seem a little dated to the current reader but is still worth picking up. The author covers the origins of hadith literature, the very meaning of hadith, it use and its place within Islamic teachings. He discusses the early compilation of hadith literature and the early hadith books many of which are still with us today. He covers the early controversies involved in the compilation of hadith and also its importance to Islamic teachings.This is not a particularly thick book in fact its only about 150 pages not including the index but the author has managed to cover a wide breath of information in great detail and provided the reader with references to original source material. There is an interesting chapter at the end which covers the orientalist view of hadith and how that developed from early orientalists to those more current. While todays reader may see that as a bit irrelevant I think its pretty important as many of these early writes still shape how Islam is studied and understood in many western institutions and some Eastern ones too. I think this is a significant read to see the development of Islamic interpretation in the west and how influential that is today.

Need this book for my dissertation, decided to buy it instead of borrowing from the library. Got it brand new and arrived 1st class!

Readers may also wish to have a look at the following:The Rise of Colleges, by George MakdisiA Theory of Early Classical Hanafism, by Sohail HanifPrinciples of Prophetic Traditions, by Amjad MohammedIntroductory Studies in Usul Al Fiqh, by Mahmud AdamMalik and Medina, by Umar AbdallahRule-Formulation and Binding Precedent in the Madhhab-Law Tradition, by Talal Al-Azem

This book gave the best overall foundation of Hadith literature as it relates Sunni Islam via Sunni traditionists. It is used in various learning institutions, schools, and mosques, of which includes the renowned DarulQasim in Chicago.The book goes through every basic point about Hadith including its various early work collections dating back to the companions, successors who were known by their era and throughout history to being great traditionists, and contemporaries.It provides a solid history of Hadith sciences and it's transformation, and even has appendixes about great women scholars who were traditionalists (Also mentioning that the great Ibn Asakir learned from over 80 female traitionists of his time).This book overall provides a good literary preface for anyone wanting to dive into the depths of the Hadith science by first understanding its basics.

Really pleased!

Great price, came on time

It's Good but lots of its based mainly on his point of view and his elections and choices as he considered the best. When it comes to Hadith Studies. First is that compilation, how it's made , their authenticity, etc those are set facts. Then he can get points of view from different known Islamic Sheiks, Immams, Historians, Authors, Etc. And of course his point of view. , overall it wasn't bad what personally, I missed was the first part. Because Hadiths is a constant study. If are trying to keep up I do suggest A Textbook of Hadith Studies. Mohammad Hashim Kamali.