Scripture and Law in Islam: Hadith Literature
NEAR E/RELIG 430

Dr. Jonathan Brown

Tues:1:30-3:20 Johnson 102

Thurs: 1:30-3:20 Johnson 175
 (5 credits)

Description:

This class will discuss the history and important functions of hadith literature in Islamic civilization, investigating how the words of the Prophet Muhammad were employed (and exploited) in the fields of law, theology, Sufism and communal identification. The class will also discuss the various methods Muslims used to uncover forged attributions to Muhammad, as well as Western criticisms of the hadith tradition. Finally, we will also examine the debates going on within the Muslim world today about the proper role of hadiths in interpreting Islam in the modern age.

I. Books & Readings: available at the UW Bookstore

• Required Texts:

1. Siddiqi, Hadith Literature (we’ll see!)
2. Brown, Rethinking Tradition in Modern Islamic Thought
3. Course Packet available at Ave Copies under Jimmy Johns (listed as NEAR E 430)
4. Course reserves, search for Brown at https://eres.lib.washington.edu/eres/courseindex.aspx?page=search

 

• Optional Texts:

1. Ibn al-Salah, An Introduction to the Science of Hadith

 

II. Assignments and Evaluation: grades will be based on the following assignments..

• Class participation – 15%
• ‘1 Minute Essays’ – 15%
• Midterm exam – 35%
• Final Exam – 35%

 

III. Schedule & Assignments: readings are due on the day listed

• 3/31 Tues:        Introduction

• 4/2 Thurs:         Collection and Compilation of Hadiths
• Read:
• Abd al-Rauf, “Hadith Collection” (packet)
• Abbott, “Collection of Hadith”  (packet)
• Speight, “Narrative Structures in Hadith” (e-reserves)

• 4/7 Tues:          Sunni Hadith Criticism
• Read:
• Siddiqi, Hadith Literature, 1-40
• Ibn al-Salah, An Introduction to the Science of Hadith, 61-69
• “Muslim’s Introduction to his Sahih” (packet)

• 4/9 Thurs:         Sunni Hadith Criticism / Traditional Reading
• Read:
• “Kitab al-‘Ilal of al-Tirmidhi” (packet)
• Brown, “How We Know Early Hadith Critics did Matn Criticism,” (e-reserves)

• 4/14 Tues:         Hadith and Legal Theory
• Read:
• Ibn al-Salah, An Introduction to the Science of Hadith, 57-60; 81-94.
• Weiss, “Knowledge of  the Past” (e-reserves)
• “Skepticism” (packet)

• 4/16 Thurs:     Movie: "The Paper Chase"  

• 4/21 Tues:        Hadith Criticism: The Big Tent of the Late Sunni Tradition
• Read:
• Siddiqi, Hadith Literature, 43-73
• Haddad, “The Use of Weak Hadith,” (packet)

• 4/23 Thurs:       Shiite Hadith:
• Read:
• Kohlberg, “Shiite Hadith” (packet)
• al-Kulayni’s Usul al-Kafi (packet)

• 4/28 Tues:        Hadith in Law
• Read:
• “Kitab Jima’ al-‘Ilm of al-Shafi’i” (packet)
•  “Weak Hadith in Law from the Jami’ of al-Tirmidhi” (packet)            

• 4/30 Thursday  Hadith in Law
• Read:
• Malik’s Muwatta on Error in Prayer (packet)
• Malik’s Muwatta on the Adhan and Prayer (packet)
• Malik’s Muwatta on Good Speech (packet)
• “Prostrations of Error in al-Tirmidhi” (packet)
• “Saying Amen in al-Tirmidhi,” (packet)       

• 5/5 Tues:           Hadith in Theology
• Read:
• “Ash’ari ‘Aqida Statement” (packet)
• “Ibn Taymiyya’s Wasitiyya” (e-reserve)

• 5/7  Thurs:         Midterm                   

• 5/12 Tues:        Hadith in Sufism
• Read:
• Sufi Hadiths… start reading (packet)
• Haddad, “Hadith Authentication by Kashf” (packet)

• 5/14 Thurs:       Hadith as Connection to the Prophet
• Read:
• William Graham, “Traditionalism in Islam” (e-reserve)
• Sufi hadiths... finish and be ready to discuss 2 hadiths you found interesting! (packet)
• Think about: what other functions the isnad and hadiths could play besides a source for law or dogma in Islam
• 5/19 Tues:         The Authenticity Question: Western Debates over Hadith
• Read:
• Brown, “Critical Rigor vs. Judicial Pragmatism,” pgs. 1-15 only (e-reserve)
• Motzki, “Dating Muslim Traditions: A Survey” (e-reserve)

• 5/21 Thurs:       The Authenticity Question 2
• Read:
• Motzki, “The Musannaf of ʿAbd al-Razzāq al-Sanʿānī as a Source of Authentic Ahādīth of the First Century A.H.” (e-reserve)

• 5/26 Tues:        The Role of Hadith in Islam Today 
• Read:
• Daniel Brown, Rethinking Tradition TBA

• 5/28 Thurs        The Role of Hadith in Islam Today
• Read:
• Daniel Brown, Rethinking Tradition TBA

• 6/2 Tues:           Comparative Traditions
• Read:
  • Gospel of John (get yourself a Bible... if you're in a hotel room, look in the bedside table drawer)

• 6/4 Thurs:             Final Exam

 

IV.  Rules and Logistics

Office Hours & Contact Info:

Jonathan Brown
(206) 616-2390 w
Brownj9@u.washington.edu
Office: M-27 in Denny Hall right above the NELC office

Office Hours:  Tuesday 11:30-12:30 or by appointment  

 

Exam Dates, Late Assignments

Unless you have a family or medical emergency, we cannot schedule an early final exam for you – if you cannot make the exam you can receive an N grade and complete the exam at the beginning of the following quarter

Assignments turned in after the end of the day listed as the due date will be marked down

 

Academic Honesty

In case of academic misconduct, such as copying homework or cheating on quizzes or exams, the offending student will be penalized in accordance with the policy of the College of Arts & Sciences: (http://depts.washington.edu/grading/issue1/honesty.htm ). Those students who allow others to copy their work will also be penalized.

 

Disability Accommodations

If you would like to request academic accommodations due to a disability, please contact Disabled Student Services, 448 Schmitz, (206) 543-8924. If you have a letter from Disabled Student Services indicating you have a disability that requires academic accommodations, please present the letter to the professor so we can discuss the accommodations you might need for the class. Their website is:  (http://www.washington.edu/students/gencat/front/Disabled_Student.html ), in 448 Schmitz, or 206-543-8924 (V/TTY).