Question
What is the Awailus Sumbuliyyah?
Answer
This is a book that is recited to a Muhaddith (Hadith Scholar) when seeking permission (ijazah) from him in Hadith.
It contains (mostly) the first Hadith that appears in over forty Hadith books. Hence the name: ‘awail’ which translates as: the firsts.
The author; ‘Allamah Muhammad Sa’id As-Sumbuli Al-Makki was a Mufti of Makkah Mukarramah, and a Muhaddith of the twelfth century A.H. (rahimahullah).
His book has been published many times.
However, the edition of Shaykh ‘Abdul Fattah Abu Ghuddah (rahimahullah) [published by Darul Bashair, 1427 A.H.] also has the addendum (dhayl) which was written by the author himself.
Note: There are several other such ‘awail’ books as well. The one in question is the most popular in our parts.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar