Hamdard Islamicus (Dec 2021)
Isnād cum Matn Analysis of Zakāt al-FiÏr Traditions: An Analysis of Harald Motzki’s Method
Abstract
Harald Motzki (d. 2019) is a highly accomplished scholar of ×adīth who used historical critical method in its study by offering a combination of isnād and matn analytical techniques. His method, the Isnād cum Matn Analysis has been adopted by his students at his university as well as elsewhere. This hybrid method for ascertaining the date and text of Traditions of the Prophet ×aÌrat Muhammad RasËlullah KhÉtam un NabiyyÊn Øallallahu ‘alaihi wa ‘alÉ Ólihi wa AÎÍÉbihi wa Øallam first compares the chains of transmission after combining them graphically as GHA Juynboll had done before him and in the second step, the variant texts transmitted by those chains are also compared. The oldest text elements are pointed out as well as the approximate date of that text. Its importance notwithstanding, his method and application have also been critically viewed by scholars of ×adīth and its history. The present paper analyses Motzki’s application of the said method to Traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) on ZakÉt al-FiÏr while also pointing out to some of the shortcomings of its application by Motzki
