Mukhtasar al-Maqasid al-Hasana fi Bayan Kathir min al-Ahadith al-Mushtahira 'ala al-Alsina مختصر المقاصد الحسنة في بيان كثير من الاحاديث المشتهرة على الالسنة

Mukhtasar al-Maqasid al-Hasanah fi Bayan Kathir min al-Ahadith al-Mushtaharah 'ala al-Alsinah (مختصر المقاصد الحسنة في بيان كثير من الأحاديث المشتهرة على الألسنة) is a highly esteemed classical text in the field of Hadith criticism, specifically focusing on “popular” or “famous” narrations.

The book is an abridgment (Mukhtasar) of the famous work Al-Maqasid al-Hasanah written by the great 9th-century Hadith master, Imam Shams al-Din al-Sakhawi (d. 902 AH). Al-Sakhawi was one of the foremost students of Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani. The abridgment was compiled by Imam Muhammad bin 'Abd al-Rahman al-Zurqani (d. 1122 AH), a prominent Maliki scholar from Egypt famously known for his commentary on Imam Malik’s Muwatta.

The primary objective of this book is to evaluate the authenticity of hadiths and sayings that are widely circulated on the tongues of the common people, preachers, and speakers (al-Ahadith al-Mushtaharah). Many phrases used commonly in daily life, sermons, or Sufi circles are falsely attributed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. This book systematically analyzes 1241 of these sayings.

It classifies each saying—proving whether it is Sahih (authentic), Da’if (weak), Mawdu’ (fabricated), or simply a wise saying of a companion, a successor (Tabi’i), or a historical proverb with no chain of narration (la asla lahu). To make it accessible, the entries are arranged alphabetically, allowing readers and researchers to quickly look up a common saying to verify its status.

 Features of the Al-Maktab al-Islami Edition

This edition is meticulously edited and verified, ensuring the text of Imam al-Zurqani is free from typographical errors and correctly matched with manuscript sources. The publishers and editors provide footnotes verifying the sources and grading of the hadiths mentioned, making it a reliable reference guide for students of knowledge, imams, and researchers. While Al-Sakhawi’s original Al-Maqasid al-Hasanah is quite lengthy and detailed in its chains of narration (isnad), Al-Zurqani’s Mukhtasar cuts straight to the final ruling on the hadith. This edition preserves that concise, practical layout, making it an excellent quick-reference handbook.

For any speaker, writer, or student of Islamic knowledge, this book is an indispensable tool to prevent the spread of fabricated or unverified narrations, thereby preserving the purity of the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.