Fundamentals of Hadith Interpretation English Amin Ahsan Islahi

Fundamentals of Hadith Interpretation is a seminal monograph by the renowned Pakistani scholar Amin Ahsan Islahi (d. 1997). The work critically addresses fundamental questions about the prophetic tradition, most notably by establishing a clear distinction between Sunnah (the Prophet’s established practice), which is deemed an absolutely reliable source of religion, and Hadith (the verbal reports), which are seen as probable truths. Islahi sets forth principles for understanding Hadith, stressing the overarching authority of the Qur’an as the ultimate criterion to measure and sift sound reports from unsound ones. He argues that no Hadith can overrule the Book’s commands, making the Qur’an the true Mizān (balance) in all religious matters.