Gharīb al-Ḥadīth and the Maliki Efforts in it (Al-Qāḍī ‘Iyāḍ and his Book "Bughyat al-Rā’id" as a Model

غريب الحديث وجهود المالكية فيه

Abstract

This study explores the science of "Gharib al-Hadith" (Obscure Hadith terms) as a fundamental linguistic tool for understanding the Prophetic Sunnah. The research aims to highlight the pioneering role of the Maliki school in the Islamic West (Maghreb and Andalusia) in documenting this art and refining its methodologies. The study focuses specifically on the scholarship of Imam Qadi Ayyad (d. 544 AH), a central figure in this analytical tradition, using his book "Bughyat al-Ra’id" (The Seeker's Goal regarding the Benefits of the Hadith of Umm Zar’) as a practical model.

​Employing a descriptive-analytical and inductive approach, the study reached several key conclusions: notably, that the Maliki school transformed the study of "Gharib" from mere brief linguistic definitions into a stage of sophisticated textual criticism and comparative narration. Furthermore, in "Bughyat al-Ra’id," Qadi Ayyad presented a holistic methodology that integrates linguistic eloquence, orthographic precision (Dabt), and legal deduction (Istinbat), making his work a unique reference for addressing complex and lengthy prophetic texts.