Ahl-Al-Kitab Companions and Their Disciples as Narrators of Prophetic Tradiations (Analytical Study of Impact on Texts of Hadith and Sirah)

Abstract

hl -al-Kitab Companions & their Disciples as Narrators of Prophetic traditions (Analytical Study of impact on texts of Hadith and Seerah) The Quranic term Ahl al-Kitab (People of the Book) includes Jews andChristians who are possessors of divine books (Torah, the Psalms (Al-Zabur) & the Gospel (Al-Injil). This is to mention that term Ahl al-Kitab„ and the term” outou al-kitab”„(those who were given the Book) occurs more than 13 times in the Qur‟an. The Qur‟an highlights the community of faith between followers of monotheistic religions (Jews, Christians and Muslims), and sometimes pays tribute to religious and moral virtues of communities that have received earlier revelations.The companions of the Last Prophet Muhammad S.A.W and their disciples who embraced Islam leaving their previous religions i.e. Judaism and Christianity played vital role in transmission of biblical and Prophetic traditions. They imparted substantial knowledge of ancient times of Israelites and Christ. It has been found that total number of Ahl al-Kitab male companions is sixty three while female companions are seven. Ahl al-Kitab tabi‟in (Disciples of companions) has been counted fifteen including 31 males and 2 females. In ahl al-Kitab companions two main narrators i.e. Tamim Dari(R.A) and Abdullah bin sallam(R.A) have been taken under discussions. Similarly narrations of two leading Tab‟i narrators Ka‟b al-Ahbar and Wahb bin Munabbah have been appraised. The orientalists and some biased Muslim scholars raised doubts on the personalities& narrations of Ahl al-Kitab companions and their disciples. Some Ahl al-Kitab pupils of Abu Hurairahra are criticized alongwith his mentor because of some traditions. They reproached these traditions on historical and logical grounds. Some of these denigrators also fabricated stories against these Ahl al-Kitab narrators and posed them as hypocrites. This research dissertation has been divided into five chapters to address the basic research question. The first Chapter was titled as “Ahl al-Kitab and the Discipline of Hadith-Some Introductory discussions”. The chapter was further divided into two sections. The chapter revolves around the topics; Conventional definition of the term Ahl al-Kitab and the differences of scholars, the number of Ahl al-Kitab companions and their disciples.The second chapter was titled as “the dimensions and limitations of deriving and benefitting of Ahl al-Kitab …an analytical study.” The chapter was further divided into two sections. In this chapter, the principles, dimensions Abstract vi and limitations of deriving and benefitting of Ahl al-Kitab & Ahl-e-Kufr have been mentioned in the light of Quran, Sunnah and opinions of other Religious leaders. The third chapter is on the Contribution of Ahl al-Kitab companions and their disciples in Hadith and Seerah traditions. Two sections of this chapter provide information about the narrations of Abdullah bin Sallam R.A., Tamim Dari R.A., Ka‟b al-Ahbar and Wahb bin Munabbah in detail. It has been discussed that what are the thematic dimensions of these traditions and where these traditions in terms of the authenticity and validity stands. In fourth chapter the objections raised by orientalists, modernists and anti-Hadith scholars have been appraised. The chapter also disapproves the objection on logical arguments that Islam is merely derived from Judaism and Christianity. It has been substantiated that presence of fabricated and weak traditions is the proof of a strong system of Hadith appraisal as if there is no such system of validation of hadith, how theses traditions were declared fabricated or weak? The final chapter to find out and highlight the impacts of the traditions of Ahl al-Kitab companions and their disciples on hadith literature. The first section of this chapter deals with the impacts of aforementioned traditions on beliefs and creeds. The second section is to uncover the impacts of said traditions on the Quranic sciences. In third section, it has been strived to expose the influences of Ahl al-Kitab companions and their disciples on early Hadith texts and primary books. In the last section, the social impacts of this knowledge sharing and interaction has been discussed. This has been concluded that the Hadith literature is authentic source of Islamic teachings and no negative impact of narrations of Ahl al-Kitab companions and their disciples has been found. This is merely a myth that Islam has built his marvelous building on the foundation of Judaism and Christianity. The sematic religions are common in some aspects but it doesn‟t mean that Islam is only extension and modification of Judaism and Christianity