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Al-taḥannuth: an inquiry into the meaning of a term
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 December 2009
Extract
The expression taḥannuth mentioned in some traditions in connexion with the first revelation of the Prophet was variously interpreted by Muslim philologists and commentators of ḥadīth. Several meanings have been attached to it by modern scholars. A re-examination of the material seems to give us a clue for elucidation of the meaning of taḥannuth and the ideas connected with it. This may also be helpful towards understanding the circumstances of the ‘Call to Prophecy’ of Muḥammad.
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- Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies , Volume 31 , Issue 2 , June 1968 , pp. 223 - 236
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- Copyright © School of Oriental and African Studies 1968
References
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21 Ansāb, al-ashrāf, ed. Muhammad, Hamīdullāh, Cairo, 1959, 1, 105, 191:⃛ fa-yatahan-nathu fīhi wa-yamkuthu al-layāliya qabla an⃛; in the Sahīh of MuslimGoogle Scholar, Cairon, 1334/1915–16, 1, 97⃛al-layāliya ulāt al--‘adad.; the Tafsīr of al-Tabarī, BūLāq, 1329/1911, 30, 161, and the Musannaf of ĨAbd al-Razzāq, MS Murād Molla, 604, f. 67a, inf., have(like al-Bukhārī)dhawāt al-‘adad. A version recorded by ĨAbd al-Razzāq deserves mention; the Prophet started to practise tahannuth and he was made to like solitude after some of his daughters were born (wa-tafiqa rasūlu Īllāhi sallā Īllahu ‘alayhi wa-sallama baĨda mā wulidat lahu ba‘du banātihi yatahannathu wa-hubbiba ilayhi, l-khalāuɝop. cit., f. 67a, 1.6 from bottom).Google Scholar
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31 ibid., 330: ‘ In Traditionen kommen nicht selten KraftausdrÜcke und obsolete Worte vor, und diese werden gewŐhnlich in allen, dem Sinne nach auch so versionen einer und derselben Erzx0102;hlung festgehalten: die Kraftausdrüke, weil sie den Ueberlieferern gefielen, die obsoleten, unverstăndlichen Worte, weil sie sie nicht verdauen konnten und darunter etwas mysterix0150;ses suchten, und auch weil sie sich darauf etwas einbildeten, mit solchen gelehrten Brocken um sich werfen zu kŐnnen. Ein solcher unverdaulicher Ausdruck ist in dieser Tradition tahannothĪ.
32 ibid., 295–6.
33 Tg. Nöldeke, Geschichte des Qorans, bearbeitet von F.Schwally, Leipzig, 1909, 1, 84x003A;‘x20DB;als er noch in den Bergen ein einsames Leben fÜhrte (tahannatha),.
34 O. Pautz, Muhammeds Lehre von der Offenbarung, Leipzig, 1989, 16; and see ibid., 17, ‘yatahannathu, “ andächtig war”,.
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43 op. cit., 44. There seems to be some connexion between the proposition of Tor Andrae and the opinion of Watt; Tor Andrae is not mentioned.
44 op. cit., 44; Watt quotes in a note the contrasting opinion of Caetani.
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65 Bakkār, Al-Zubayr b., op cit, 1, 371, 645.Google Scholar
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70 In text, min nsl; this is an error–read min nusuk.
71 Al-ḤALABቛ, , InsānGoogle Scholar
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