Contrary to popular opinion, the bulk of Islamic law does not come from the Quran but from hadith, first-hand reports of the Prophet Muhammad’s words and deeds, passed from generation to generation. However, with varying accounts often only committed to paper a century after the death of Muhammad, Islamic scholars, past and present, have been faced with complex questions of historical authenticity.

In this wide-ranging introduction, Jonathan A. C. Brown explores the collection and criticism of hadith, and the controversy surrounding its role in modern Islam. This edition, revised and updated with additional case studies and attention to the very latest scholarship, also features a new chapter on how hadiths have been used politically, both historically and in the Arab Spring and its aftermath. Informative and accessible, it is perfectly suited to students, scholars and general readers interested in this critical element of Islam.

Jonathan A. C. Brown is Associate Professor and Alwaleed bin Talal Chair of Islamic Civilization at Georgetown University. He is the author of Misquoting Muhammad, which is also published by Oneworld. He lives in Washington, DC.

Preface to the Revised Edition

Preface

Acknowledgments

Conventions, Abbreviations, and Transliteration

1 The Prophet’s Words Then and Now: Hadith and Its Terminology

2 The Transmission and Collection of Prophetic Traditions

3 The Methods and History of Hadith Criticism

4 Prophetic Traditions in Shiite Islam

5 The Function of Prophetic Traditions in Islamic Law and Legal Theory

6 The Function of Prophetic Traditions in Theology

7 The Function of Prophetic Traditions in Sufism

8 The Function of Prophetic Traditions in Politics

9 The Authenticity Question: Western Debates over the Historical Reliability of Prophetic Traditions

10 Debates over Prophetic Traditions in the Modern Muslim World

11 Conclusion



Glossary

Bibliography

Index