Maulana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanwi[1] Translated by Waqar Akbar Cheema On June 18, 1937, the Amritsar weekly Akhbar Ahle Hadith published an edict about a scholar from Azamgarh, UP, India, who had opined that the Qur’an contained some words that were not grammatically and rhetorically the best choice in their respective contexts but were nevertheless used […]
Thanwi: Expressive Guidance on Delving into Qur’anic Eloquence Read More »
Abstract This article examines a hadith in Sahih Muslim that records three requests made by Abu Sufyan to the Prophet ﷺ, focusing on a historical anachronism surrounding Abu Sufyan’s proposal of his daughter Umm Habiba. The study analyses the isnad, mentions past explanations, and highlights the shortcomings of each. A compelling explanation proposed by a
Waqar Akbar Cheema Abstract One of the differences in the interpretation of ‘Sab‘a Ahruf’ hadith reports is whether sab‘a denotes the specific numeral or signifies an unqualified multitude. This paper analyses the phrase from a linguistic aspect besides exploring the details of the hadith reports bearing on this point. Opinions and proofs of certain past
Sab‘a Ahruf Hadith: Sab‘a Indeed Means Seven Read More »
Waqar Akbar Cheema Abstract The article is about examining details of the saying of ‘Aisha of which a narration mentioned in Sahih Muslim has been used by critics to cast aspersions on the completeness of Qur’anic preservation in writing after the Prophet. Cross examining various narrations of ‘Aisha’s report on five-sucklings as proof required to
Reality of ‘Missing’ Qur’anic Verse on Suckling Read More »
Waqar Akbar Cheema According to a famous hadith in Sahih Bukhari, Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: لا عدوى ولا طيرة، ولا هامة ولا صفر There is no infection, no evil omen, no hama, and no serpent in a hungry belly (safar). Problematizing the apparent meanings The above translation done by an orientalist James Robson is actually
On Meaning Of The Hadith “There Is No Contagious Disease” Read More »
Waqar Akbar Cheema Abstract A cogent analysis of hadith reports about children born out of wedlock in Islam with a focus on the meanings of such reports as understood by traditional scholars of Islam over the centuries. The article shows such reports considered suggestive of condemnation of children born as a result of adultery were
Are children born out of wedlock condemned in hadith? Read More »
Waqar Akbar Cheema[divider] Abstract The question about Prophet Muhammad’s (ﷺ) alleged inconsistency in taking more wives than allowed for Muslim men has generally been responded to by alluding to the Qur’anic verses that granted him certain marriage related privileges. The summary response, though correct, has faded some historical facts of Prophet’s (ﷺ) life bearing on
Marriage Related Privileges of the Prophet: A Study in Chronology Read More »
Waqar Akbar Cheema Some people refer to certain quotes from Islamic exegetical literature mentioning a devil named al-Abyad. Firstly, it needs to be clarified that mention of a devil named al-Abyad is very rare in the Islamic literature of all genres. A contemporary scholar noted: Al-Abyad does not seem ever to have become a major
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and the devil named al-Abyad Read More »
Waqar Akbar Cheema Abstract The piecemeal revelation of Qur’an against various contexts in over two decades served the purpose of strengthening the hearts of the first Muslims. Those unable to appreciate this scheme of revelation harbor and pronounce undue skepticism towards the Prophet’s mission and accuse him of making up ‘convenient revelations.’ One such example
Correction or Consolation? Qur’an 4:95 and Exemption for the Blind Man Read More »
Waqar Akbar Cheema 1. Introduction Some modernists claiming to be ‘real Hanafis’ in their spree of lies suggest that ‘Ikrimah – the freedslave of Ibn ‘Abbas – is alone in narrating the well-known hadith about the punishment of apostasy, من بدل دينه فاقتلوه Whoever changes his religion, kill him. Coupled with their baseless accusation that
Is ‘Ikrimah alone in narrating the hadith “Whoever changes his religion, kill him”? Read More »