THE JURISPRUDENTIAL METHODOLOGY OF THE HADITH SCHOLARS IN THE STUDY OF THE CHAPTER TITLES OF THE FOUR SUNAN BOOKS THROUGH THE LENS OF THE MUWATTAʾ OF IMAM MALIK” (THE BOOK OF PURIFICATION: FROM THE CHAPTER “ABLUTION AFTER A MAN KISSES HIS WIFE” TO THE END

Abstract

The paper presents the Jurisprudential Significance of the Sunna-e-Arba’a (سنن الاربعة)  and the Chapter Headings (Tarājim Al-Abwābترجمۃ الابواب ) used by Ḥadīth Scholars, particularly in the Four Sunan in comparison with Jurisprudential Significance and Chapter Headings of the Muatta Imam Malik (موطأ الامام مالک).

Numerous scholars have studied the chapter headings of Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and have comprehensively explained the relationship of the heading with the contents and hadiths therein, however, the paper argues that other major Ḥadīth collections—especially the Muwaṭṭaʾ and the Four Sunan—have received comparatively less attention in this area. Their authors likewise selected chapter headings that reflect their legal reasoning and interpretive positions.

The study therefore seeks to examine the fiqh of the ḥadīth scholars through their chapter headings, using the Muwaṭṭaʾ of Imām Mālik as a methodological reference and point of comparison. It focuses specifically on the Book of Purification (Kitāb al-Ṭahārahکتاب الطھارۃ ) because of its central importance to Islamic worship and its rich jurisprudential content.