Seminar at CIBF Explores Role of Hadith Defects in Preserving Sunnah

The Muslim Council of Elders hosted a seminar titled “The Science of Hadith Defects: A Tool for Protecting the Sunnah or a Gateway to Doubt?” during the 57th Cairo International Book Fair, highlighting the precision and significance of Ilal al-Hadith in preserving the Prophetic tradition.

The session featured Professor Dr. Ahmed Ma‘bad Abdel Karim, member of Al-Azhar’s Council of Senior Scholars, and was moderated by researcher Dr. Mohamed Ma‘bad. Speakers emphasized that the study of Hadith defects is critical for safeguarding the Sunnah, ensuring scientific rigor, and addressing doubts within a disciplined scholarly framework.

Dr. Ma‘bad credited Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb for introducing the formal teaching of Ilal al-Hadith at Al-Azhar University, noting that defects appear more often in chains of narration than in the text itself, while authentication remains possible through corroborating reports.

The seminar reinforced the importance of critical methodology in strengthening confidence in Hadith studies.