Tawatur in Islamic Thought | Transmission & Orthodoxy

Tawatur in Islamic Thought: Transmission, Certitude and Orthodoxy

How does transmitted information become certain knowledge? In Tawatur in Islamic Thought, Suheil Laher follows that question across the major disciplines of the Islamic intellectual tradition.

Tawatur refers to transmission through enough independent channels to establish certainty. Laher traces how Muslim scholars developed and applied the concept in theology, legal theory, Hadith studies, and the transmission of the Quran. The book also examines how debates over certainty and authority shaped the boundaries of orthodoxy.

This is a scholarly monograph rather than a general introduction. Its value lies in bringing several fields into one sustained study, allowing readers to see where their methods overlap and where they differ.

What This Study Covers

• The historical development of tawatur as an epistemological category
• Its use in Islamic theology and legal theory
• Questions of authenticity and certainty in Hadith scholarship
• Tawatur in Quranic transmission and reading traditions
• The relationship between transmitted certainty and Islamic orthodoxy

Book Details

• Full title: Tawatur in Islamic Thought: Transmission, Certitude and Orthodoxy
• Author: Suheil I. Laher
• Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
• Series: Edinburgh Studies in Islamic Scripture and Theology
• Language: English
• Format: Hardcover
• Length: 288 pages
• ISBN: 9781399510813

Who This Book Is For

The book is suited to advanced students, researchers, teachers, and serious readers working in Islamic theology, Usul al-Fiqh, Hadith, Quranic studies, or intellectual history. Readers exploring academic approaches to scripture may also find Christianity and the Qur'an and No Compulsion in Religion useful companions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does tawatur mean?
In this context, tawatur is the transmission of information through enough independent channels for it to yield certainty.

Q: Which disciplines does the book examine?
It studies tawatur in theology, legal theory, Hadith sciences, Quranic transmission, and discussions of orthodoxy.

Q: Is this an introductory book?
It is an academic monograph and is most useful for readers with a serious interest in Islamic studies.

Q: Which edition is listed here?
This listing is for the 288-page English hardcover edition published by Edinburgh University Press.

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