RLG204H5 Lecture 4: Lecture #4 RLG204.docx
Document Summary
Muhammad"s life: the centrality of sunna and hadith: sunna (plural: sunan): the prophet"s custom , his words, deeds, and habitual practices, sunna: well known in pre-islamic arabia, applied to the prophet: The category of exemplary words, deeds, and gestures. Answer: ideal: it is the archetype for the muslim life . Memory: it is remembered and transmitted by means of a literary form called hadith . The relationship between the quran and hadiths: the quran: the most authoritative source for islamic doctrine and practice, hadiths confirm, extend, elaborate, explain and supplement the revelation. How were hadiths preserved: it began with the prophet"s own initiatives, the prophet"s companions became the first figures in transmitting hadiths, main figures: abu-hurayra, ibn umar, anas ibn malik, the caliphs umar and ali, and especially. The means of transmission: three means: 1) memorizing them 2) recording them 3) following/imitating the hadith in daily life. Important: to understand a hadith"s parts and arrangements, two parts:
