Said the Prophet of God: hadith commentary across a millennium

Author
Blecher, Joel
Publisher
University of California Press
Year
2018
Language
English
Call Number
BP136.8 .B54 2018
ISBN
9780520295940
Reference Only
Off
Number of Pages
272
Library of Congress Subject Heading
Hadith -- Criticism, interpretation, etc. -- History
Library of Congress Subject Heading 2
Criticism, interpretation, etc.
Abstract

Although scholars have long studied how Muslims authenticated and transmitted Muhammad’s sayings and practices (hadith), the story of how they interpreted and reinterpreted the meanings of hadith over the past millennium has yet to be told. Joel Blecher takes up this charge, illuminating the rich social and intellectual history of hadith commentary at three critical moments and locales: classical Andalusia, medieval Egypt, and modern India. Weaving together tales of public debates, high court rivalries, and colonial politics with analyses of ethnographic field notes and fine-grained arguments adorning the margins of manuscripts, Said the Prophet of God offers new avenues for the study of religion, history, anthropology, and law.