Sunan Ibn Majah (5 Vol. Set)

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Sunan Ibn Majah (5 Vol. Set)

Sunan Ibn Majah is one of the six most authentic collections of the Ahadith and contains 4,341 total Ahadith. Like the other translations of the six books of hadith, Dar-us-Salam Publications, has taken great care in correct translation, simple and clear modern English language, and high quality publishing.

Ahadith in the book are followed by comments to explain issues and to help readers derive lessons. To aid readers further, Dar-us-Salam, has added several features like section on how to benefit from Sunan Ibn Majah, about the Arabic and technical terms used, information about the hadith compilations and a glossary of Islamic terms in the last volume.

Each hadith is also followed by its status in regards to the authenticity. The status is explained more in detail in the Arabic text. The chain is also complete in the Arabic text while it is removed from the English to reduce the length and not being of much benefit to the English readers.

Compiled by: Imam Muhammad Bib Yazeed ibn Majah Al-Qazwini
Ahadith edited and refrenced by: Hafiz Abu Tahir Zubair Ali Zai
Translated by: Nasiruddin al-Khattab (Canada)
Final Review by: Abu Khaliyl (US)

Ibn Majah's Book: As-Sunan

Ahadith began to be put down in writing even during the era of the Prophet (S), but these Ahadith were no better than compilations individuals. Their purpose was just to put them down in writing, with: regard for order or sequence. Later, during the caliphate of 'Umar bin 'Abdul-'Aziz (99 AH-101 AH), the state undertook this task but most of the works in this field were the products of individual labor. During the second century of the Hijra calendar, famous books like Muwatta' of Imam Malik and Musnad of Imam Shafi were prepared but the third stage recording Ahadith, known as the Golden Age, came only in the third century AH. Many collections were made in this age. These included the Six Books (Kutub Sittah), popularly known as the Sound Six (Sahah Sitta), Sunan of Ibn Majah being one of them and considered the last of them.

Sunan Ibn Majah began to be included in the Six Books by the end of the fifth century AH. Since then, in every succeeding age, it kept on growing value and importance. With respect to soundness and strength, Sunan Ad Darimi, Sunan Ad-Daraqutni and other books of Sunan were superior Sunan Ibn Majah but they did not gain popularity like Sunan Ibn Majah.

It is to be noted that Sunan is a technical term used by scholars of Had sciences to denote a book of Ahadith relating to legal rulings, from the Chapters of Purification down to the Chapter on Wills in the same order as followed in books of Islamic jurisprudence.

How important and useful the Sunan Ibn Majah is, can also be gauged the fact that when Ibn Majah showed his work to Imam Abu Zar'ah, the latter remarked: 'If this book reached the public, all or most of the existing  Jawami would cease to be used. The words of Imam Abu Zar'ah proved be true to the last letter. Several Jawami, Musnads and Sunan were eclipsed by Ibn Majah's Sunan.

Hafiz Ibn Hajar termed the book Jami' Jaiyid (a good, comprehensive Hadith collection).

The book, As-Sunan by Imam Ibn Majah was an excellent and beneficial work that stunned the scholars of his time.

He himself said about the book: "I showed this book to Abu Zur'ah Razi. He checked it and said, 'I think if people lay their hands on this book, all or most of other great compiled works will become unnecessary."