Saj’ in Hadith: perception and functions

Abstract

The subject of this research is the rhymed and rhythmic prose (Saj’) in Hadith. The article is dedicated to the comparison of perception of rhymed and rhythmic prose by Companions of the Prophet Muhammad and subsequent Muslim tradition with the contained in Hadith records testifying to the use of Saj’ by Muhammad. The author cites an example of the rhetoric of Prophet Muhammad and his closest Companions articulated in rhymed and rhythmic prose, which were recorded in Hadith. These include sermons, speeches on religious topic, religious-legal decrees, and prayers. The scientific novelty consist in the statement that both, the medieval Arab-Muslim scholars and Orientalists traditionally pay lesser attention in their works to the rhymed and rhythmic prose than to poetry. Saj’ in Hadith remains one of the most insufficiently studied topics. The research demonstrated that despite the records on denial of Saj’ by Prophet Muhammad and his closest Companions, as well as distrusts of the medieval Arab-Muslim authors, Hadith has documented evidence of using the rhymed and rhythmic prose by Prophet Muhammad and his closest Companions. This can be explained by the established representations of religious discourse in the Early Islamic Arabia.