Textual Studies of the Hadith - National Open University of Nigeria

ISL222 TEXTUAL STUDIES OF THE HADITH
later furthered his education by studying many branches of fiqh
(jurisprudence), Islamic law and Arabic grammar. He knew the value of
time and did not waste it; rather he spent it in learning and worshipping
of Allah. He was very fond of reciting Qur’an and very consistent in
glorifying Allah.
He turned his mind from the ephemeral things of this material world
and concentrated on spiritual matters. He travelled to Makkah in 651
A.H. and spent one and a half months there.
It was narrated that when he was going to Makkah, he had fever and he
was not well until the day of Arafah. He went to Arafah despite his bad
health and he did not complain of any thing. When all the rites of hajj
were finished, he returned to Damascus. Allah gave him knowledge and
sign of understanding appeared on him.
He had great reputation as a scholar. He studied Usul al-Fiqh under the
feet of Al-faith Umar ibn Binder ibn Umar at-Taflisi Ash-Shafi‘i. He
also learnt the science of Hadith (Ulum-al-Hadith) from Ad-Diya’ ibn
Tamām al-Hānafi and Abi Ishāq Ibrahim ibn al-Murād al-Andalūsī.
SELF-ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 2
Give a short history of Muhyiddin Nawāwī.
His Death
Shortly before his death, Yahya ibn Sharaf travelled to Cairo to pay
Imam Shafi'i a visit. When he reached Imam Shafi‘i’s home, he stood
stopped there and did not move any further. When he was told to
continue moving he said:
"If Imam Shafi'i is alive and I see this tent, it is mandatory for me
to stand for mere seeing it"
Then he left the town without the knowledge of anybody. He returned
all the books he borrowed from endowments (awqaf). He paid a visit to
the tomb of his friends and bid them farewell. Then, he travelled to
Nawa where he fell sick and died in the night of Wednesday 24 th of
Rajab 676 A.H. and was buried there.
His Work
He wrote many works on various subjects especially on traditions, law
and grammar. Some of them are:
3