The History of

Hadith Criticism

:An Overview of Hadith Collection

Musannaf: a transcript of legal

discourse.
Musnad: tracing reports back to the
Prophet.
Sunan: legal references based on the
Prophet.
Exhaustive collections: local histories,
personal mujams, transmission
sessions.

HOW DOES HADITH CRITICISM

?WORK
How would you verify a report?
The Three Tiers of Hadith Criticism:
1. It needs an Isnad.
2. Is the Isnad reliable?
3. Is the report corroborated?

WESTERN CRITICISM OFF THE

HADITH TRADITION

Ignaz Goldziher d.1921, and

Form Criticism
Hadith are really the result of

early Muslim political, sectarian

and legal disputes.

JOSEPH SCHACHT

D.1969 AND THE

BACKGROWTH OF ISNADS

Al-Bukharis Sahih
Al-ShafiI Umm
Maliks Muwatta
Successor
Companiom
Prophet

JUYNBOLL AND THE COMMON LINK

Bukhari

Muslim

Termedi

Yahya
Amr
Layth
Common Link

Zaid

Successor c.80700
companion
Prophet

MOTZKI AND THE COMMON LINK

Bayha
qi

Abu Naayim

Bukhari

Ibn Vahid

Muslim

Termedi

Yahya

Amr
Layth

Common Link 1

Zaid

Successor c.80700

companion
Common link2---------------Prophet