Al-Arf al-Shadhi sharh Sunan al-Tirmidhi (Arabic: العرف الشذي شرح سنن الترمذي, romanized: al-ʿArf al-Shadhī Sharḥ Sunan al-Tirmidhī) is a multi-volume Arabic commentary on Sunan al-Tirmidhi attributed to Muhammad Chiragh Punjabi, was crafted by synthesizing the annotations and teachings of Anwar Shah Kashmiri during his teaching career. Its initial publication dates back to 1919. Notably aligned with the Hanafi school of thought, the purpose of Kashmiri, as reflected in this work, extended beyond the clarification of ideas and grammatical intricacies; it predominantly aimed at establishing Abu Hanifa's elevated stature in the realm of jurisprudence. In 1968, Yusuf Banuri introduced Maarif al-Sunan sharh Sunan al-Tirmidhi across six volumes to address any identified discrepancies within Al-Arf al-Shadhi.
 Arabic cover | |
| Editor | Muhammad Chiragh Punjabi |
|---|---|
| Author | Anwar Shah Kashmiri |
| Original title | العرف الشذي شرح سنن الترمذي |
| Language | Arabic |
| Subject | Sunan al-Tirmidhi |
| Genre | Commentary |
| Published | 1919 |
| Publication place | British India |
| Media type | |
| ISBN | 9789957674991 Turath Publishing |
| OCLC | 884580861 |
| 297.125 | |
Background
editMuhammad Chiragh Punjabi was a disciple of Anwar Shah Kashmiri during his tenure at Darul Uloom Deoband. Following the completion of his studies in 1918, Muhammad Chiragh Punjabi assumed an academic role in Gujranwala, located in the Punjab region, which is part of present-day Pakistan. Subsequently, he went on to establish a distinguished institution for advanced Islamic studies in Gujranwala. Anwar Shah Kashmiri never had the opportunity to review this book's manuscript, which was initially published in two volumes.[1]
In the preface of this work, Muhammad Chiragh Punjabi acknowledges the significant difficulties he encountered during its compilation. One issue is that Anwar Shah Kashmiri had delivered his lectures in the Urdu language, whereas Muhammad Chiragh Punjabi chose to transcribe them in Arabic. As a result, he admits that the work may exhibit certain imperfections, and he takes full responsibility for any discrepancies. He emphasizes that Anwar Shah Kashmiri should not be held accountable for these issues.[1]
Subsequent to the initial publication, in 1972, a revised edition of this work was brought forth by Muhammad Mian Samalki in Beirut. Further enhancing the availability and accuracy of this significant text, in 2013, Muhammad Abdullah al-Asadi, hailing from Jamia Arabia Hathaura Banadeh, presented another revised version, published through Dar al-Iman Saharanpur in India.[2]
Features
editThis book encompasses a wide array of topics, including distinctions among Imams, perspectives held by mujtahid Imams and hadith scholars, discrepancies and reconciliations within hadith, the historical context of hadith, critical analysis and authentication decisions, and the history of narrators. These elements collectively contribute to the book's academic value.[2]
Moreover, the compiler has included explanatory notes when deemed necessary, providing a scholarly perspective. An emphasis on the precision of hadith wording is evident in Anwar Shah Kashmiri's approach to hadith study. Fiqhi issues are explored with a foundation in hadith, offering students a comprehensive understanding of the subject, often involving frequent references to narrators in the course of the classes.[2][3]
Reception
editMeraj Ahmad Meraj, a professor in the Arabic Department at Aliah University, conducted an analysis of the text and observed significant influences on Kashmiri's work, including commentators such as Ibn Qutaybah, Ibn 'Abd al-Barr, Hafiz Fezlullah, Ibn Taymiyya, and Ibn Qayyim.[4] Yunoos Osman, associated with the University of Durban-Westville, expressed disappointment in Abdur-Rahman Mubarakpuri's commentary on Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi Sharh al-Tirmidhi, where errors in the book were attributed to Anwar Shah Kashmiri, despite Muhammad Chiragh Punjabi's acceptance of responsibility for any shortcomings. This cast doubts on Kashmiri's teaching abilities, suggesting he made errors during his lectures.[5] Yusuf Banuri responded to these errors with Maarif al-Sunan sharh Sunan al-Tirmidhi, a six-volume Arabic commentary published in 1968, rooted in Anwar Shah Kashmiri's teachings.[6] Mohd Kaleem, a PhD scholar from Aligarh Muslim University, praised the book's uniqueness for summarizing all the noble commentaries of Sunan al-Tirmidhi within a single volume.[2]
Legacy
editA doctoral thesis was undertaken at the International Islamic University Malaysia by Fazlur Rahman Abdul Bari, delving into Kashmiri's jurisprudential preferences during his commentary on Sunan al-Tirmidhi, with a specific focus on the topic of prayer. In Turkey, another doctoral thesis titled A Comparison of Kashmiri's Al-Arf al-Shadhi and Mubarakpuri's Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi in the Context of the Hanafi-Salafi Hadith Commentary Tradition was conducted by Serdar Murat Gürses.[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Abdulla, Molla (2022). Anwar Shah Kashmiri and his contribution to Dissemination of Hadith Literature (PhD). India: Department of Arabic, Persian, Islamic Studies, Visva-Bharati University. pp. 240–241. hdl:10603/491744. Archived from the original on 24 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- ^ a b c d Kaleem, Mohd (2017). Contribution of Old boys of Darul uloom Deoband in Hadith Literature (PhD) (in Urdu). India: Department of Sunni Theology, Aligarh Muslim University. pp. 426–429. hdl:10603/364028. Archived from the original on 24 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- ^ Kamal, Mohd Arif (2020). Ulema e Hind ki Bisween Sadi Nisf Awwal mein Khidmat e Hadith Tanquidi Mutala (PhD) (in Urdu). India: Department of Sunni Theology, Aligarh Muslim University. pp. 142–144. hdl:10603/364940. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
- ^ Ahmad Meraj, Meraj (2019). "Contribution of Anwar Shah Kashmiri to the Hadith Literature in India" (PDF). Insight Islamicus. 19 (1): 9–10. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 December 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
- ^ Osman, Yunoos (2001). Life and works of 'Allamah Muhammad Anwar Shah Kashmiri (PhD thesis). University of Durban-Westville. pp. 116–117. hdl:10413/6384. Archived from the original on 27 December 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
- ^ Ahmad, Zubair; Ali, Syed Shahrukh; Ali, Shahbaz (2022). "The efforts of the Scholars of Binnori Town on the Sunan of Imam Tirmizi". Khairulummah (in Urdu). 2 (1): 178–187. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7657739. ISSN 2790-329X. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ Anar, İbrahim (2020). The Hadith Scholarship of Anwar Shah Kashmiri (d. 1933) (PDF) (MA) (in Turkish). Karaman, Turkey: Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University. pp. 61–62. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
- Adrawi, Asir (1995). Dabistan-i Deoband ki Ilmi Khidmaat (PDF) (in Urdu). Deoband, UP, India: Darulmuaallifeen. pp. 102–103. OCLC 47964786.