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Course Structure
| Study Mode | Online |
| Course Duration | 30 Lessons |
| Start Date | 19 October 2025 |
| End Date | 28 June 2026 |
| Day | Sundays |
| Time | 7-8pm (UK) |
| Cost | Free |
| Instructor | Shaykh Ali Laraki |
| Text | Taysir Mustalah Al-Hadith (Buy here in Arabic) |
All lesson recordings available on-demand!
This 30-lesson course offers students a structured and accessible journey through the central concepts, terminologies, and debates of muṣṭalaḥ al-ḥadīth as outlined in Shaykh Maḥmūd al-Ṭaḥān’s Taysīr Muṣṭalaḥ al-Ḥadīth.
Beginning with the historical development of ḥadīth preservation, students will examine the principles behind isnād and matn criticism, exploring how scholars established rigorous methods to authenticate prophetic traditions. The course will then guide participants through the major categories of ḥadīth including ṣaḥīḥ, ḥasan, and ḍaʿīf - clarifying the conditions for each and the nuanced distinctions made by leading muḥaddithūn.
As the lessons progress, students will encounter the rich typology of narrations: mutawātir versus āḥād, marfūʿ versus mawqūf and maqṭūʿ, as well as the intricate subcategories of defective narrations such as muʿallaq, mursal, mudallas, and maqlūb. They will analyze how these classifications impact legal rulings, theological arguments, and scholarly discourse within the broader Islamic tradition.
Finally, the course situates the science of ḥadīth within its intellectual and spiritual context, reflecting on the role of isnād as the hallmark of this ummah, the ethical responsibilities of transmitters, and the enduring relevance of muṣṭalaḥ al-ḥadīth for contemporary Muslim engagement with the Prophetic Sunnah. By the end, students will have gained not only familiarity with technical terminology but also a deep appreciation for the precision, discipline, and reverence that underpin the tradition of ḥadīth scholarship.
Topics Covered
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Lesson 1 |
Introduction - Preliminary concepts |
| Lesson 2 | The - Mutawātir – Ahād – Mashhūr report (al-khabar) |
| Lesson 3 | The ʿAzīz - Gharīb report |
| Lesson 4 | The Saḥīḥ report |
| Lesson 5 | The Ḥasan report |
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Lesson 6 |
The classification of the accepted report into [one] acted upon and [one] not acted upon - the rejected report |
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Lesson 7 to 13 |
The rejected report (continuation) |
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Lesson 14 to 17 |
The report that falls between the accepted and the rejected (continuation) |
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Lesson 18 |
The qualities of one whose narration is accepted, and what relates to that concerning al-jarḥ and al-taʿdīl (criticism and accreditation) |
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Lesson 19 to 20 |
The levels of al-jarḥ and al-taʿdīl |
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Lesson 21 |
Accurate preservation of the narration and the methods of its acquisition (transmission) |
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Lesson 22 |
Writing ḥadīth, preserving it accurately, and classifying it |
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Lesson 23 |
The etiquettes of narration (ādāb al-riwāya) |
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Lesson 24 to 25 |
The subtleties of the isnād (chain of transmission) |
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Lesson 26 |
Knowledge of the narrators (ruwāt) |
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Lesson 27 to 30 |
Knowledge of the narrators (continuation) |
About the Text
Taysīr Muṣṭalaḥ al-Ḥadīth (by Shaykh Dr Maḥmūd al-Ṭaḥān)
The text Taysīr Muṣṭalaḥ al-Ḥadīth is a renowned introduction to the sciences of ḥadīth, praised for its clarity, structure, and ability to distill centuries of scholarship into an accessible manual.
The author skilfully gathered and summarised the diverse scholarly opinions of earlier generations, presenting them in a clear and organised manner.
It has become a cornerstone for students worldwide, equipping them with the essential tools to navigate the classifications of narrations, the conditions of authenticity, and the methodology of hadith criticism.
Its author, Shaykh Maḥmūd al-Ṭaḥān, was a respected 20th-century scholar of ḥadīth who dedicated his life to the service of the Sunnah. Born in Aleppo, he studied under eminent scholars and went on to teach across the Muslim world, leaving a profound impact on both students and institutions. His works reflect a deep reverence for the Prophetic legacy and a passion for preserving its precision, while his teaching style combined rigorous scholarship with accessibility. Through this text, he gifted generations a bridge between the classical heritage of hadith sciences and the needs of contemporary learners.
Learning Outcomes
Learn traditional Islamic knowledge in a thorough, practical and transforming way
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Understand the key classifications of ḥadīth and the conditions scholars established for authenticity.
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Explore the role of isnād and narrator reliability in safeguarding the Prophetic Sunnah.
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Learn the terminology and categories of Muṣṭalaḥ al-Ḥadīth, enabling precise engagement with texts.
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Discover how the principles of hadith criticism influence Islamic law, theology, and scholarship.
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Appreciate the scholarly legacy and rigor of traditional ḥadīth sciences as preserved in classical works.
Course Fees
Our courses are free!
(Only *£10 to cover admin fees)
*The inclusion of the small nominal admin fee helps us to counter bots and spam.
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Shaykh Ali Laraki
Senior Instructor
Testimonials
Amer Nazri | Animation Director
Kamran Ahmed | Finance Director
FAQs
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How long is this course?
This course is based on 30 lessons (1 hour each).
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What do I need to access this course?
All you need is a reliable internet connection and access to a personal computer, tablet or phone – our online courses are responsive and designed to work across all platforms. We also recommend that you study the courses somewhere quiet so that you can concentrate and get the most out of the rich, helpful information they contain.
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Do I require additional resources?
No.
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Will there be recording available if I miss a class?
Yes. Recordings of each lesson will be posted within a day. All recordings will remain accessible for the academic year.
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Will I get a qualification or ijazah?
If you complete the course, you will receive a certificate of completion.
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Why is there a £10 admin fee?
We're able to offer our courses free of charge (rather than pay £££) as they are largely funded through sponsors and student donations. The inclusion of the small nominal admin fee helps us to counter bots and spam. We do however encourage students to support our cause by becoming a monthly supporter: https://lote.org.uk/donate (UK) https://lote.org.uk/donate-international (Non-UK)
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I'm not in the UK, does that matter?
No, absolutely not – in fact that’s one of the main reasons we developed our online courses, so that more people from around the world could benefit from our training.
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