the history of the compilation of the Hadiths

the earliest collections

the main musnad and musannaf collections

the main compilers and their activities

the methods based on examination of the chain of transmitters (isnad) and the text (matn) of a Hadith

the main features of the six collections of Sunni Hadiths and the four collections of Shi‘a Hadiths

the major themes of the Hadiths as these are contained both in the passages set for special study

their use in legal thinking, and their relationship with the Qur’an, consensus (ijma‘) and analogy (qiyas)

their significance in thought and action in Islam

Questions