A Scholarly Review of Fath al-Wadud bi Sharh Sunan Abī Dāwūd: Methodology, Sources, and Contributions to Hadith Studies

Abstract

This study offers a comprehensive scholarly review of Fath al-Wadūd bi Sharh Sunan Abī Dāwūd, the distinguished commentary authored by Shaykh Nūr al-Dīn Abū al-Ḥasan al-Sindī al-Madanī. The article examines al-Sindī’s methodological approach in elucidating Sunan Abī Dāwūd, particularly his reliance on earlier authorities such as al-Suyūṭī, his rigorous attention to phonetic precision (zabt al-alfāẓ), clarification of variant readings, analysis of obscure vocabulary, and concise yet effective remarks on rijāl and isnād criticism. Through a close reading of representative passages, supported by classical biographical and philological sources, the study highlights how Fath al-Wadūd contributes to the preservation, understanding, and critical interpretation of Hadith texts. The findings demonstrate that al-Sindī’s commentary not only reinforces the legal and linguistic value of Sunan Abī Dāwūd but also provides a methodological model that bridges classical Hadith scholarship with contemporary textual analysis.