Includes bibliographical references (p. 232-246) and index.

$a Machine generated contents note: I INTRODUCTION -- An Experiment Using Exegetical Haduths -- Assumptions, Conclusions, and Qualifications -- 2 JIADITH CRITICISM -- Traditional Sunni Muslim Account -- Early Western Scepticism -- 1. Goldziher and the Advocacy of Scepticism -- J. Schacht and Fictitious Legal Haduths -- E. Stetter and Topoi and Schemata in Hadfths -- Reaction Against Scepticism -- N. Abbott and the Early Continuous Written Tradition -- F. Sezgin and the Cataloguing of Early Texts -- M. M. Azami and the Critique of Schacht -- he Search for Middle Ground -- G. H. A. Juynboll and the Refinement of Schacht's Methods -- F. Rahman and an Attempt to Save the Sunna -- G. Schoeler and the Oral/Written Distinction -- IH. Motzki and the Implausibility of Fabrication -- j. Horovitz, J. W. Fuick, J. Robson, N. J. Coulson, and U. Rubin -- newed scepticism -- M. Cook and the Spread of Isnads -- N. Calder and the Common Link as the Locus of Controversy -- analyses and Conclusions -- 3 EXEGETICAL HADITHS AND THE ORIGINS OF TAFSIR -- Defending Isnads and Reconstructing Early Tafsirs -- H. Horst and Counting Isnads -- Birkeland, Abbott, Sezgin, and Goldfeld -- G. Stauth and Comparing Transmissions from Mujahid -- The Scepticism and Literary Analysis of J. Wansbrough, -- A. Rippin, et al. -- Middle Ground -- C.H.M. Versteegh, M. Muranyi, New Manuscripts and -- Reconstructions -- C. Gilliot and the Function of Isnads in the Imaginaire -- F. Leemhuis' Intermediate Position -- Other Scholars Who Have Entered the Fray -- Implications for the Study of Early tafszr(s) -- Excursus: THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE HISTORICAL HADITHS -- 4 METHODOLOGY: ISNADS AND EXEGETICAL DEVICES -- Content Versus Style -- An Alternative -- Parameters: al-Tabari and Ibn CAbbas -- Al-Tabari -- Al-Tabari's Tafsir as a Text -- Al-Tabari as a Compiler -- Al-Tabari as an Exegete -- Ibn 'Abbas -- The Mythic Ibn CAbbas -- The Students and Works Attributed to Ibn CAbbas -- Hypotheses for Possible Outcomes -- Da

$a The most important debate in Islamic origins is that of the reliability of the lists of transmitters (isnads) that are said to guarantee the authenticity of the materials to which they are attached. Many scholars have come to the conclusion that most traditions (hadiths), which claim to preserve the words and deeds of Muhammad and early Muslim scholars, are spurious. Other scholars defend hadiths and their isnads, arguing for an early continuous written transmission of these materials. The first purpose of this study is to summarize and critique the major positions on the issue of the authenticity of hadiths in general and exegetical hadiths in particular. The second purpose is to devise a means of evaluating isnads that does not rely on circular arguments and to use it to determine if the hadiths in the Tafsir of al-Tabari, attributed to Ibn 'Abbas, are genuine.