The Academic Study of Hadith in North America Universities

OpenAlex İngilizce

Scholarly interest in Islamic studies has increased over the last decade. The academic study of Islam in North America emerged from Orientalism; after World War II it gave way to area studies and, in the mid-twentieth century, started to be addressed as a separate research area. However, the subfield of Hadith studies remainsneglected. In comparison to its role and the approach at modern academic institutions in the Muslim world, Hadith studies in North American universities seem to have received attention mainly in terms of this body of literature’s authenticity. This paper uses qualitative research methods to provide an overview of the historical and contemporary academic study of this subfield and examine the space allocated to it within the broader Islamic studies curriculum. Examining and analyzing its legacy and current state in the academy will help us clarify the general acceptance of this subfield within those institutions.