Sheikh ul Hadith () is an

Arabic language Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...

term that refers to a highly respected and knowledgeable scholar who specializes in the study and teaching of

hadith Hadith is the Arabic word for a 'report' or an 'account f an event and refers to the Islamic oral tradition of anecdotes containing the purported words, actions, and the silent approvals of the Islamic prophet Muhammad or his immediate circle ...

, which are the sayings and actions of

Muhammad Muhammad (8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious and political leader and the founder of Islam. Muhammad in Islam, According to Islam, he was a prophet who was divinely inspired to preach and confirm the tawhid, monotheistic teachings of A ...

. In Islamic tradition, the study and understanding of the hadith are essential for understanding the teachings of

Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...

and its practices. A Sheikh ul Hadith is typically someone who has dedicated many years of their life to the study of Islamic texts, including the

Quran The Quran, also Romanization, romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a Waḥy, revelation directly from God in Islam, God (''Allah, Allāh''). It is organized in 114 chapters (, ) which ...

, hadith, and other related texts. They have an in-depth knowledge of the various sciences related to hadith, such as the classification of hadith, the biographies of narrators, and the methodology of verifying the authenticity of hadith. In many Islamic countries, Sheikh ul Hadith is a title given to respected Islamic scholars who have achieved a high level of expertise in the field of hadith. These scholars often teach at Islamic seminaries and universities, and their knowledge is sought after by students, scholars, and the wider community.

Notable

There have been many notable Sheikh ul Hadiths throughout Islamic history. Some are: *

Imam Bukhari Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad ibn Ismāʿīl ibn Ibrāhīm al-Juʿfī al-Bukhārī (; 21 July 810 – 1 September 870) was a 9th-century Persian Muslim ''muhaddith'' who is widely regarded as the most important ''hadith'' scholar in the history ...

(810-870 CE) - Imam Bukhari is considered one of the greatest scholars of hadith in Islamic history. He is best known for his collection of hadith known as Sahih al-Bukhari, which is considered one of the most authentic collections of hadith. *

Imam Muslim Abū al-Ḥusayn Muslim ibn al-Ḥajjāj ibn Muslim ibn Ward al-Qushayrī an-Naysābūrī (; after 815 – May 875 CE / 206 – 261 AH), commonly known as Imam Muslim, was an Islamic scholar from the city of Nishapur, particularly known as a ' ...

(821-875 CE) - Imam Muslim is another renowned scholar of hadith who is known for his collection of hadith known as Sahih Muslim. His work is also considered one of the most authentic collections of hadith. * Imam Abu Dawud (817-889 CE) - Imam Abu Dawud is best known for his collection of hadith known as Sunan Abu Dawud. His work is considered one of the six most authentic collections of hadith. *

Imam Tirmidhi Muhammad ibn Isa al-Tirmidhi (; 824 – 9 October 892 CE / 209–279 AH), often referred to as Imām at-Termezī/Tirmidhī, was an Islamic scholar, and collector of hadith from Termez (early Khorasan and in present-day Uzbekistan). He w ...

(824-892 CE) - Imam Tirmidhi is known for his collection of hadith known as Jami' at-Tirmidhi. His work is considered one of the most comprehensive collections of hadith, and it is often used as a reference in Islamic legal rulings. * Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (780-855 CE) - Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal is known for his vast knowledge of hadith, and he is considered one of the most prominent scholars of hadith in Islamic history. His collection of hadith is known as Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal. * Abdur-Rahman Mubarakpuri (1865–1935 CE) - Abdur-Rahman Mubarakpuri was a prominent scholar of hadith in the Indian subcontinent. He is known for his commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, known as Tuhfat al-Ahwazi. *

Zakariyya Kandhlawi Zakariyya Kandhlawi (; 3 February 1898 – 24 May 1982) was a mid-twentieth-century traditionalist Sunni scholar and an authority in the study of hadith, also known as Sheikh al-Hadith, hailing from India. He was an influential member and ideol ...

References

{{reflist Islamic honorifics Islamic scholars