Al-Aijaz Research Journal of Islamic Studies & Humanities

Introduction and Importance of the Science of Hadith and Mention of Renowned Muhaddithin

Ms. Alina Shakeel, Dr. Farida Kakar, Mufti Abdul Tahir — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The word Hadith in the Arabic language is used for various meanings and contexts. In Arabic, Hadith means conversation, a new matter, or an important and notable event. Anything new, significant, or worthy of mention, a conversation, or a discourse, is referred to as Hadith in Arabic. The plural of Hadith is Ahadith, derived from the singular word Ahdoothah, meaning a particular or prominent thing remembered by people. However, among the Muhaddithin (scholars of Hadith), the plural Ahadith has been commonly used since the beginning. From a linguistic perspective, Ahadith is the plural of Ahdoothah. It signifies any news or matter, whether related to religion or worldly affairs. In the terminological sense, scholars of Hadith, linguists, and experts in principles have provided slightly varying definitions. Hadith can also mean a conversation, an event, or a story. In Islamic terminology, Hadith refers to the sayings, actions, and approvals of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). When the term Ilm al-Hadith (the science of Hadith) is used in technical terms, it refers to all matters and subjects aimed at verifying the sayings, actions, and states of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). The word Hadith is derived from Tahdith, which means "to inform." Hence, any saying, action, or approval attributed to the Prophet (ﷺ) is referred to as Hadith. Before the advent of Islam, Arabs used the term Hadith in the sense of "informing" or "news." For instance, they referred to their famous events as Ahadith. The root of the word Hadith always carries the meaning of conveying information, regardless of how it is transformed. Some scholars also associate the word Hadith with the concept of novelty, making it the opposite of Qadeem (ancient). In this sense, they consider Qadeem as the Book of Allah and Jadeed (new) as the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). According to the sayings of the Prophet (ﷺ), only two things hold ultimate significance: Kalam (speech) and Tariqah (path). Thus, the best speech is the speech of Allah, and the best path is the one followed by Muhammad (ﷺ). Most books of Hadith include the phrase Inna Ahsan al-Hadith Kitab Allah ("Indeed, the best Hadith is the Book of Allah"). In contrast, Ibn Majah uniquely uses the term Ahsan al-Kalam ("the best speech"). This distinction suggests that some scholars, out of caution and piety, avoided referring to the divine scripture, which is eternal, as Hadith. However, it is clear that the science of Hadith serves as a critical means to preserve and authenticate the sayings, actions, and approvals of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), which are second only to the Qur'an in importance for Muslims.

The Need and Importance of Ethical Teachings in Islam

Prof. Dr. Matloob Ahmad , Dr. Muhammad Qasim , Dr. Wajid Ali — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

According to the Qur'an, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is a universal and perpetual Prophet and also a Mercy to the worlds, so the message, program and government, political, social, economic and social system he gave to the world is one of his main goals to eradicate oppression and oppression from all over the world. The end of justice, the respect and honor of humanity, the protection of the basic rights of man, the destruction of all causes of sedition and the establishment of peace and order at the global level through the suppression of crimes and the life and property of every human being and honor and reputation. There was also a need to provide safety and security equipment. By the way, the entire life of the Holy Prophet ﷺ and His behavior before and after the declaration of Prophet Hood and numerous actions are proof of his Peace-loving nature, which we believe in the extent of far-sightedness, insight, inner insight, extreme wisdom, understanding of the matter and Attributes such as patience and tolerance can be attributed to Hamidah or the light of Prophet Hood. However, from the days of infancy and from childhood, it is evident from his character and certain habits that peace-loving and peace-making were part of his nature and instincts. The Prophet ﷺ was not a verbal claimant of peace and security like some of today's big powers and politicians, but He ﷺ showed it by becoming a high example of peace and security. Along with the teachings and instructions of peace and security and the destruction of all the causes and motivations of mischief, the Prophet ﷺ covered all the steps he took for peace, security and reconciliation throughout his life before and after the declaration of Prophet Hood. There is no room here. The patience of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) on the continuous harassment and mockery of the Quraysh of Makkah and his exhortation to the people of Islam to be patient with their persecution is also an argument for pacifism.

The Critical Review of the Growing Trend of Popular Naat in Contemporary Naat Poetry

Dr. Muhammad Sarwar — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study presents a critical analysis of the growing trend of popular naat in contemporary Urdu naat literature. Naat poetry is a sacred and dignified genre in Urdu literature, wherein the emotions of love and devotion to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ are expressed with artistic finesse and religious reverence. However, in recent decades, naat has evolved into a form of popular expression, where simplicity of language, emotional tone, and immediate impact have taken precedence. While this trend has played a significant role in raising religious awareness among the masses, it has also led to a decline in the literary, artistic, and theological standards of naat. This paper critically and analytically explores the definition, causes, impact, and scope of popular naat. The research reveals that although this form of naat has succeeded in bringing the love of the Prophet ﷺ to the hearts of the common people, it has at times compromised on literary quality, intellectual depth, metrical accuracy, and religious boundaries. The study concludes with key recommendations to preserve the sanctity and literary integrity of naat writing.

Methods of eloquent analogy in the Noble Qur'an - an analytical rhetorical study

Muhammad Kashif Barkati, Dr. Mumtaz Ahmad Sadidi — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Arabic language has branches of its sciences such as grammar, morphology, and rhetoric. Rhetoric is divided into the many inquiries, and in general it was divided into three sections: the science of meanings, the statement, and the bade. One of the topics of science statement analogy. As for this, the Qur’an verses contain the beauty of rhetorical methods. The eloquent analogy in the Holy Qur'an is one of the rhetorical methods that enhance the strength of the Qur'anic message, as it contributes to making the meanings clearer and more convincing, and raises feelings of reflection and reflection in the reader or listener, and it is one of the rhetorical methods in which the Holy Qur'an uses accurate and powerful images to express meanings, in order to facilitate their understanding and delivery to the recipient effectively. In this type of analogy, something is compared to something else using a simile (such as "as" or "like"), but it is often so precise and detailed that it contributes to reinforcing the intended idea or meaning. The writer chooses the holy Quran, because it contains many methods of simile. With this research, he wanted to investigate the methods of simile and its purposes, because the methods of imitation have special purposes and goals to confirm the meaning contained in the verse, and their purposes differ between one verse and the other verse.

Islamic Soft Power in International Relations: A Case Study of Saudi Arabia’s Religious Diplomacy

Dr. Assad Mehmood Khan — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Saudi Arabia has strategically employed Islamic soft power as a tool of religious diplomacy to expand its geopolitical influence and maintain leadership in the Muslim world. While Soft Power Theory (Nye, 1990) emphasizes attraction and persuasion, this study integrates Neo-Realism (Waltz, 1979) to analyze how Saudi Arabia utilizes religious influence to secure its national interests in an anarchic international system. Through Hajj and Umrah diplomacy, mosque funding, religious education, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Saudi Arabia extends its ideological reach and strengthens global alliances. Additionally, the study examines Saudi Arabia’s strategic competition with Iran and Turkey, highlighting the interplay between religious diplomacy and power politics. Using a qualitative research approach, this study employs content analysis of official policy documents, speeches, and media discourse, along with case studies, to assess the effectiveness and limitations of Saudi religious diplomacy in international relations.

Study The Post–Covid–19 Academic Challenges of The School Heads in District Shaheed Benazirabad

Uzma Siddique, Dr. Tayyaba Zarif — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The emergence of COVID-19 in Wuhan in December 2019 made every country to take notice of the situation and announce globally accepted effective measures to minimize the losses. This pandemic situation has shaken every pillar of the states in the world. Education is a continuous process, and the mixing up of the masses from different corners of society was supposed to be a major cause of its spread. The shutdown of educational institutions was the very first step taken by each country to curtail the spread of COVID-19. The same steps were rigorously taken in Pakistan as well. The reopening of the schools took almost seven months, but during this period, some online classes were taken at higher education level At the school level, it was also a big challenge because of the insufficient resources and difficulties to use technology. The schools were reopened under the SOPs by the Government of Pakistan and the provincial governments and their departments and so the education department also notified the SOPs for the schools to re-continue the education without a visible loss. The reopening of the schools was not an easy task as the parents and the students were afraid of becoming affected by the virus. This study was intended to study the post-COVID-19 academic challenges of the school heads in District Shaheed Benazirabad. The objectives of the research study were to determine the challenges faced in the implementation of SOPs, analyze the support from the higher authorities, and understand the head teachers' administrative and management challenges after the reopening of the schools in district Shaheed Benazirabad. The quantitative research method was applied in this research study and a survey design was employed. The population of the research study was 245 head teachers of the Elementary, Middle, Secondary, and Higher Secondary boys’ and girls’ schools of District Shaheed Benazirabad. The sample of the current study was 174 headteachers (43+42+44= 174) selected through a simple random sampling technique. A self-designed questionnaire on a five-point Likert scale was used for data collection. The results showed that in some cases the necessary facilities were missing in the schools, it was also found that the higher authorities though responded positively but yet some of the headteachers showed concerns. It was also found that the teachers faced problems in managing the proper seating of the students in overcrowded classes during the COVID-19 pandemic situation. It is recommended that the teachers and the head teachers should be made prepared to tackle any such situation in the future, the necessary support should be made available in time in the schools, and the higher authorities should engage focal persons for a cluster of schools to keep in touch with the headteachers to cope up with such situations.

The Evolution and development of Library and Information Science in Pakistan: A Historical Study

Aamir Shahzad, Dr. Muhammad Sarwar — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Library education or library science as an academic discipline is not an old term compared to education in other disciplines or fields of knowledge. It has a history of almost 130 years, from when this discipline was first introduced at the University of Germany and later on to the United States of America (USA) and other European countries. Until the nineteenth century, academic librarians were usually university professors with a keen interest in libraries. Library and Information Science (LIS) in Pakistan has undergone significant transformations since the country's inception in 1947. From establishing foundational libraries to embracing digital advancements, the LIS sector in Pakistan plays a crucial role in education, research, and the dissemination of information. After the creation of Pakistan in 1947.Universities have also started offering Ph.D. programs in LIS, enhancing research and academic contributions. Today, the LIS has evolved into an advanced academic discipline in Pakistan. It has been passed through a historical process, bringing a paradigm shift in LIS as an academic discipline worldwide. The historical journey of library and information science in Pakistan was a testament to its resilience and adaptability in response to the evolving information landscape. The researcher will be trying to fulfill the gaps by analyzing these studies, in the historical context; one can trace the evolution of LIS as an academic discipline in Pakistan, recognizing the achievements while acknowledging the ongoing challenges. The historical trajectory also reflects broader societal changes, such as the increasing role of technology and the paradigm shift from traditional information LIS systems to more dynamic, digital frameworks as well as International Standards.

Effectiveness of Using Activity Sheets in Teaching among Grade 5

Fiza Farhan, Nadia Thalho , Zubaida Jamali — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of using activity sheets in teaching Grade 5 students. Specifically, it sought to compare the academic performance and engagement levels of students taught using activity sheets versus conventional lecture-based methods. The study used a quasi-experimental research design involving two groups of Grade 5 students from an elementary school. One group of 30 students was taught using activity sheets while the other group of same size was taught using conventional lecture. Their academic performance was measured through pre-and post-tests while their engagement levels were observed and measured through a rubric. Statistical analysis of the pre-and post-test results showed that students taught using activity sheets performed significantly better than those taught through lectures. Observation results also showed that activity sheet students had higher levels of engagement, participation, and on-task behavior compared to the lecture group. The use of activity sheets was found to be more effective than conventional lecture-based teaching in improving the academic performance and engagement of Grade 5 students. Activity sheets provided opportunities for hands-on, interactive, and collaborative learning which enhanced understanding and retention of lessons compared to passive lecture-listening. Educators are encouraged to incorporate activity sheets in their teaching of Grade 5 and similar levels.

A Review and Critical Analysis of Religious & Socio-Political Effects of Khanqah Shur Bazar Kabul in The Afghanistan in Twentieth Century

Dr. Hassan Baig Mujaddidi — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This article highlights an important topic that attempts to understand the relationship between religious tradition and modernity. The Mujaddidi Sufis and Khanqah of Shur Bazar, Kabul, provides an important historical and cultural references that clarifies the process of revival and reform in Islam. Sheikh Ahmad Sirhindi (reviver of second millennium), through the Mujaddidi movement, attempted an intellectual renewal in the Islamic world, which not only reformed religious beliefs and practices but also advocated a new intellectual trend that spoke of adapting the ancient principles of Islam to modern conditions. The movement aimed to encourage people to live a practical and modern life alongside traditional teachings. The example of Khanqah of Shur Bazar is a symbol of the religious and political struggle in Afghanistan, where the concepts of tradition and modernity clash. This Khanqah/Monastery is an important center of religious teachings in twentieth century, and here the teachings of Sufism play an important role in the debate on modernity. The Khanqah/Monastery is also concerned with how traditional spiritual experiences and modern philosophical thought can coexist and be balanced. In Afghanistan, this debate is not only religious but also political and cultural. The role of Khanqah/Monastery and madrasas (religious institutions) in Afghanistan not only affects the spirituality of the individual, but also has significance in terms of social changes and the effects of modernization. In this context, highlighting the religious and cultural significance of the Khanqah of Shor Bazar, Kabul, helps to understand, how Afghanistan is on the one hand pursuing modernity and on the other hand defending traditions. The aim of this paper is to show that religious traditions, especially the teachings of Sufism, can survive in the era of modernity and that such institutions play an important role in educating new generations about their religious heritage and traditions. This research will examine the impact institutions like Khanqah Shor Bazar are having on the culture and religion of Afghanistan, and how these institutions are trying to maintain traditions while facing the challenges of modernity.