Hadith interpretation among contemporary hadith scholars: A study on al-Ghumari's interpretation methods on selected issues

• Main Author: Ahmad Shah, Faisal
• Format: Article
• Published: Brill 2021
• Subjects: BL Religion
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/34949/

This article analyses the methods applied by contemporary hadith scholars in interpreting the hadiths of the Prophet (PBUH) and the extent to which these methods were practiced by previous hadith scholars. Three leading scholars from al-Ghumari's family were selected, namely Ahmad bin al-Siddiq al-Ghumari, Abdullah bin Siddiq al-Ghumari and `Abd al-Aziz al-Ghumari. Al-Ghumans are Sufi scholars who have been criticised for their method in evaluating hadith. This research focuses on the methods of interpretation used by the al-Ghumaris and examines the qualitative research methodology applied by these three scholars in interpreting hadith. The result shows that several of their methods contradict the methods applied by the previous hadith scholars who were careful to distinguish between hadiths that are general or specific. In interpreting hadith al-fitan, these three scholars preferred to use ta'wil (an interpretation not immediately implied by the text) rather than depending on textual methods. Much of their understanding of hadith al-fitan is based on unrealistic assumptions and without any evidence.