Al-Sarakhsī’s (D. 483/1090) Ḥadīth Methodology

Recently, the assertion that the Ḥanafī school has its distinct ḥadīth methodology has gained prominence in the literature, leading to substantial academic research. Al-Sarakhsī and his al-Mabsūṭ, the pivotal figures in the development of the Ḥanafī methodology, have been the focus of numerous studies; however, certain aspects of them remain open to further investigation. In my ongoing PhD research, I am analysing al-Sarakhsī’s ḥadīth methodology in al-Mabsūṭ from those aspects. This study conducts a comparative analysis, focusing on two initial chapters, one from the worship (ʿibādāt) and one from the transaction (muʿāmalāt) sections of al-Mabsūṭ, while comparing them with the theoretical framework outlined in his al- ʿUṣūl. The current research is strengthened by incorporating Ḥākim (d. 334/945)’s al-Kāfī and al-Shaybānī (d. 189/805)’s Zāhir al-Riwāya, which underpin al-Mabsūṭ, to explore al-Sarakhsī’s original contributions to Ḥanafī ḥadīth methodology, alongside several key ḥadīth sources that provide further context. In analysing his al-ʾUṣūl, this study likewise engages with earlier Ḥanafī works, most notably those of al-Jaṣṣāṣ, al-Dabūsī, and al-Pazdawī, both to trace lines of transmission and to better identify the distinctive aspects of Sarakhsī’s methodological contributions. Additionally, this research is structured thematically, categorising al-Sarakhsī’s ḥadīth approach in al-Mabsūṭ from different perspectives, examining both textual and narratorial elements. In this presentation, the scope and methodology of my research will first be outlined. Then, some of the key findings to date will be presented, with a particular emphasis on the originality of al-Sarakhsī’s approach to ḥadīth in terms of inter-school and interdisciplinary consistency and harmony, especially within the context of the current conference theme of “building a shared future.” Understanding this originality with clarity is essential to address divisive misconceptions and continue in the same direction for advancing contemporary academic works by following al-Sarakhsī’s unifying and coherent approach.