A discussion of the 'pillars' of Eemaan and the factors which invalidate ISlam and remove a person from its fold.
Author: Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz
Source: http://www.islamhouse.com/p/1227
An summarised text detailing the rules governing the Criticism of Hadeeth. From its introduction -'A hadith (pl. ahadith) is composed of two parts: the matn (text) and the isnad (chain of reporters). A text may seem to be logical and reasonable but it needs an authentic isnad with reliable reporters to be acceptable; 'Abdullah b. al-Mubarak (d. 181 AH) is reported to have said, "The isnad is part of the religion: had it not been for the isnad, whoever wished to would have said whatever he liked." During the lifetime of the Prophet (SAS) and after his death, his Companions (Sahabah) used to refer to him when quoting his sayings. The Successors (Tabi'un) followed suit; some of them used to quote the Prophet (SAS) through the Companions while others would omit the intermediate authority - such a hadith was known as mursal (loose). It was found that the missing link between the Successor and the Prophet (SAS) might be one person, i.e. a Companion, or two persons, the extra person being an older Successor who heard the hadith from the Companion.'
Author: Mahmood Al-Tahaan
The story of one of the Companions search for the truth.
Author: Dr. Saleh As-Saleh
Source: http://www.islamhouse.com/p/1225
The science of hadeeth terminology and assesment is a particularly difficult field of study. Dr. Bilal Philips has managed in this text to simplify this topic and to make it quite relevant to our times by addressing some of the most challenging questions raised by those who question the validity of hadeeth literature in general.
Author: Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips
Ibn Taymiyyah said: "This (enjoining good and forbidding evil) is a duty that the entire Ummah is obliged to fulfil. It is what the Ulama know as an obligation of collective responsibility, if a group in society undertook to discharge it, the other members of this society are absolved from it. The entire Ummah is commissioned to undertake it, but if a group therein was responsible for discharging it, the rest of society is no longer obliged to undertake it."
Author: Sheikh-ul-Islam ibn Taymiyyah
Reveiwers: Muhammad AbdulRaoof
Translators: Salim Abdullah Marjan
A summary of the rulings, etiquette and Sunnah of Qiyaam.
Author: Muhammad Salih Al-Munajjid
Publisher: http://www.islamqa.com - Islam : Question & Answer Website
Source: http://www.islamhouse.com/p/1337