All thanks to Almighty Allah who created the universe and decorated it with skies and stars and made the sun as the chief source of energy for the planet earth. He created man as the best creature and sent Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) as the chief source of guidance for the mankind. May Allah send everlasting and ever increasing blessings on the blessed soul of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam).

Philosophers and critical students of nature wandered in the jungles of darkness in search of truth, what they could not unfold in centuries, was decoded by Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) by simple looking but comprehensive statements. It is these decoding keys of treasure of truth which are called Ahaadith. Certainly one cannot know the truth without knowing these keys of treasures of truth in the form of Hadith.

By the Grace of Allah, in this small work I have tried to make the students of Hadith familiar with the fundamentals of Hadith which is very important to know before studying the Ilm-e-Hadith properly. I hope readers will find it useful and will make Dua for me so that Allah Ta'ala accepts this small work and make it as a means of salvation for me in the Hereafter.

Dr. Rafiq Ahmad.
9th April. 2000.