Second International Scientific Symposium

Held at the College of Islamic and Arabic Studies in Dubai
18–20 Safar 1426 AH / 28–30 March 2005 CE
Part One
(Sessions One and Two)

College of Islamic and Arabic Studies
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Introduction

All rights reserved
First Edition
1426 AH / 2005 CE

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all the worlds, and may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon the noblest of messengers, his family, his companions, and those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment. To proceed:

The organizing committee of the International Symposium on the Noble Prophetic Tradition at the College of Islamic and Arabic Studies in Dubai is pleased to present to the esteemed reader a book containing the research papers selected by the arbitration committee for presentation during the Second International Scientific Symposium held at the college from 18–20 Safar 1426 AH / 28–30 March 2005 CE, under the title: "The Noble Prophetic Tradition and the Challenges of the Age."

In addition to these research papers, the book includes enriching interventions, comments, and responses from esteemed professors. It is hoped that this book will serve as an enduring legacy, carrying within its pages the message of the symposium to future generations and echoing the college’s contributions to the service of knowledge and society.

The book also reflects the profound care of His Excellency Sheikh Juma Al-Majid, Chairman of the College’s Board of Trustees, in reviving Islamic sciences and preserving its heritage, undertaking efforts that only a nation or state could accomplish.

Building on the experiences of the committee from the previous scientific symposium, strenuous efforts were made to ensure that this second symposium would be an effective step toward addressing the challenges facing the Prophetic Tradition—whether internal or external. The committee also sought to lend academic rigor to the research presented in its sessions, ensuring objectivity, originality, and documentation, based on the essential elements that such research must fulfill, including arbitration and discussion before a broad audience of specialists from various countries and academic institutions.

However, it is difficult for human beings to achieve their aspirations except through gradual stages. The symposium addressed the most pressing concerns of the Muslim Ummah in the present age, where doubts have proliferated regarding the Sunnah and the credibility of the methodologies of early hadith scholars in preserving it. Thus, the symposium’s themes were carefully defined to prevent it from becoming a mere celebration where any research could be presented merely for the sake of the event, with its impact ending once the symposium concluded—a point noted by His Excellency Sheikh Juma Al-Majid in his opening speech.

The research papers thus identified the types of problems facing the Prophetic Tradition today, particularly in the fields of hadith criticism and jurisprudence, while proposing appropriate and effective solutions. May Allah reward the diligent researchers who responded to the call of the organizing committee, driven by a spirit of trustworthiness, mission, and responsibility.

The committee apologizes for the exclusion of some research papers submitted to the symposium, either due to their late arrival despite repeated reminders regarding the submission deadline, or because they were extracted from university theses. It is worth noting that this symposium distinguished itself from the first in terms of its subject matter, organization, expanded international participation, and media coverage.

Participants in the symposium included researchers from various Islamic countries and academic institutions, in addition to invited scholars and dignitaries. The college thus became a haven of knowledge, adorned with a majestic gathering and graced by an atmosphere of profound spirituality, alongside the diversity of participating countries and academic institutions. The countries represented included Malaysia, Pakistan, Turkey, Italy, the Netherlands, Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and Sudan, through their researchers. The Iqraa satellite channel played a leading role in media coverage, broadcasting daily reports on the symposium’s sessions, thereby bringing the college—with its academic and scholarly presence—into the spotlight for millions across the Muslim world.

The contributions of companies and institutions in sponsoring the symposium, as well as the efforts of committee members and the entire college staff in organizing its proceedings, left a positive impression of this academic institution. Even today, as these words are written, the echoes of the symposium resonate, and its impact will continue to be felt as long as this book remains in the hands of future generations.

All of this is by the grace of Allah the Almighty, to whom all praise and favor are due. We pray that He grants us further strength to activate the college’s role in serving knowledge and society, setting an example for others in dedication and all forms of good.

The committee extends its gratitude to all the professors who contributed to enriching the symposium’s topics through their research, comments, or responses. Special thanks are also due to the professors of the Departments of Usul al-Din (Theology) and Arabic Language at the college for their linguistic review of the research papers and the transcription of tapes containing the comments of respondents and the researchers’ replies.

Gratitude is also extended to His Excellency Sheikh Juma Al-Majid, the founder of this academic edifice and Chairman of its Board of Trustees, and to His Excellency Professor Muhammad Abd al-Rahman, the college’s director, whose invaluable efforts contributed significantly to the success of the symposium and the publication of this book.

And our final supplication is: All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.

Chairman of the Organizing Committee
Prof. Dr. Hamzah Abdullah Al-Sulayari
8/4/1426 AH
16/5/2005 CE