XXXII.—THEOLOGICAL LITERATURE.
Muhammadan theological literature is very extensive, and m consequence of the cheapness of lithographic printing, it is daily increasing.
The following are its chief divisions:—
(1.) Hadís.—Accounts of the precepts and practice of Muhammad. The collectors of Hadís may be numbered by hundreds, but the chief authorities are the six books known as the Siháh-i-Sita, or "six correct books." The popular work on the subject amongst the Sunnis of India being the Mishkát-ul-Musábih. (See article on Traditions.)
(2.) Usúl (lit. "roots").—Treatises on the rules and principles of the four foundations of the Islám law,—being expositions of the exegesis of the Qurán and Hadís, and the principles of Ijmaʾ and Qiás. The most popular works on this subject are the Manár, by Abdullah ibn Ahmad, A.H. 710, and the Talwiʾ Tauziaʾ, by ʾUbaid-Ullah ibn Masʾud, A.H. 747.
(3.) ʾAqáid (lit. "creeds").—Expositions of scholastic theology, founded upon the six articles of faith. The most celebrated exposition of the Islám creed being that by Imám Ghazáli, A.H. 505. In India the work most read is the Sharah-i-ʾAqáid, by Maulaví Masʾud Sʾad-ud-din Taftazáni, A.H. 792.
(4.) Fiqah.—Works on Muhammadan law, whether civil or religious. The work most read amongst Sunnis is the Hidáyah, written by a learned man named ʾAli, A.H. 593; part of which has been translated by the late Colonel Charles Hamilton. A smaller work, entitled the Sharah Waqaiah, by Abdul Haqq, is also much used.
(5.) Tafsír.—Commentaries on the Qurán. These are very numerous, and contain very many Jewish traditions of the most worthless character. One of the latest and most learned of these productions is said to be the short commentary by Shah Wali Ullah of Delhi, who died A.H. 1176.
The best known commentaries amongst the Sunnis are Baizáwi (A.H. 685), Madárik (A.H. 701), Jalálain (A.H. 911), Baghawi (A.H. 515), Mazhári (A.H. 1225), Hoseini (A.H. 900).
(6.) Síyar.—Ecclesiastical history, i. e. the history of Muhammad and his successors. This branch of literature, Sayyid Ahmad Khan of Aligarh says, "is the one which requires the most emendation."
The chief authorities on the life of Muhammad and early days of Islám, in addition to the Hadís, are Ibn Isháq, Ibn Hishám, Wáqidi, and Tabarí; whilst the most popular histories amongst the Sunnis of India are the Rawzat-ul-Ahbáb, by ʾAtaa Ullah ibn Fazl Ullah, A.H. 1000, and the Madárij-un-Nabuwat, by Shekh Abdul Haqq, A.H. 1025.
In addition to his theological studies, the Muhammadan student is instructed in Mantiq (logic), Sarf (inflexion), and Nahw (syntax).
The text of a book is called Matan, the marginal notes Hashíyah, and its commentary Sharh.