The pavilion of the Muslim Council of Elders at the Cairo International Book Fair held the second seminar during the 57th edition of the fair, titled “The Science of Hadith Defects: A Tool for Protecting the Sunnah or a Gateway to Doubt?”, with the participation of Professor Dr. Ahmed Ma‘bad Abdel Karim, Member of the Council of Senior Scholars at Al‑Azhar.
The seminar, moderated by Dr. Mohamed Ma‘bad, a researcher at Al‑Azhar, was held as part of the Muslim Council of Elders’ efforts to preserve Islamic heritage and promote knowledge‑based dialogue founded on sound methodology and awareness. The discussion addressed the science of Ilal al‑Hadith as one of the most precise disciplines of Prophetic Sunnah studies, examining its role in safeguarding the Hadith tradition, preserving its scientific methodology, and responding to doubts raised against it within a rigorous scholarly framework that reinforces confidence in the Hadith heritage and affirms the importance of critical methodology in the service of the noble Prophetic Sunnah.
During the seminar, Dr. Ma‘bad noted that His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al‑Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al‑Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, deserves credit and recognition for introducing the teaching of this discipline at Al‑Azhar University, in recognition of its great importance in serving the Prophetic Hadith. He explained that this subject had not been included in the university’s curricula prior to his assumption of the office of Grand Imam.
Dr. Ahmed Ma‘bad affirmed that the science of Ilal al‑Hadith is among the most noble, precise, and honorable of Islamic sciences, and that engaging with it requires extensive study and deep reading of the works of the great scholars. He explained that defects appear more clearly and frequently in chains of transmission than in the text itself, noting that the presence of defects in the chain does not negate careful attention to the text, as the text may still be authenticated through other routes or supporting narrations.
The Muslim Council of Elders is participating at the 57th Cairo International Book Fair, held from 21 January to 3 February 2026. The pavilion features a wide range of the Council’s publications, alongside a series of seminars, activities, and events that promote the values of peace and coexistence among all people.
The Muslim Council of Elders’ pavilion is located next to the Al‑Azhar Pavilion in Heritage Hall No. 4 at the Egypt International Exhibition and Convention Center in the Fifth Settlement.