Hadith Interpretation in the Kurdish Commentary Literature: An Analysis of Tuhfat Al-Zākirīn

Abstract

Efforts to understand the words and deeds of the Prophet have not remained confined to the Arab world throughout history; rather, distinctive interpretive traditions have also emerged within different languages and cultures. In this regard, the development of Hadith interpretation in Kurdish represents a noteworthy endeavor, both for its role in transmitting Islamic teachings into the vernacular and in cultivating a reflective, interpretive awareness among the local population. Particularly during the late Ottoman period and the early years of the Turkish Republic, a modest yet significant phase emerged, during which Kurdish Hadith literature began to take shape. One of the most illustrative examples of this tradition is Tuhfat al-z & amacr;kir & imacr;n, authored by Halife Yusuf Top & ccedil;u and published in Ankara in 1962. This work not only offers Kurdish translations of Arabic Hadiths but also provides succinct and meaningful explanations designed to enhance public religious understanding. The author's interpretive method is multi-faceted, as it incorporates Qur'anic verses, corroborating Hadiths, the words of the Companions and early generations, historical narratives, and Sufi reflections. Moreover the use of poetic expressions rooted in folk literature to reinforce the narrative, along with the author's keen observations on human psychology and social structure, has carried the work into the cultural and intellectual context of the modern era. This approach transforms Tuhfat al-Z & amacr;kir & imacr;n from a mere literal exposition into a comprehensive interpretive model with pedagogical and sociological dimensions. The clear and locally adapted language employed throughout further renders the work both a scholarly and a cultural text. As such, Tuhfat al-Z & amacr;kir & imacr;n stands as a pioneering contribution to localized Hadith interpretation within the Kurdish intellectual and religious tradition.