How many sciences of Hadith are there, what are these sciences, with which science should a student of Hadith begin, and how should he progress in each science?

The name "Hadith Sciences" or "Hadith Terminology" is given to the body of knowledge related to the Prophetic Hadith, and it specializes in transmitting it and distinguishing between the sound (sahih) and the weak (da'if) among its narrations. Hadith sciences are divided into two main sections:

1. Ilm al-Riwayah (Science of Narration): This deals with meticulously recording the text of the hadith and verifying its wording. Under this category fall types such as marfu' (attributed to the Prophet), mawquf (attributed to a Companion), and maqtu' (attributed to a Successor). 2. Ilm al-Dirayah (Science of Scrutiny): This deals with the conditions of the isnad (chain of narration) and the matn (text of the hadith). It includes distinguishing between accepted and rejected narrations, the science of al-jarh wa al-ta'dil (discrediting and accrediting narrators), the biographies of narrators, and the 'ilal (hidden defects) of hadith.

Ibn al-Salah extended the types of hadith sciences to sixty-five. The books authored in this field vary, and among the beneficial works are Tadrib al-Rawi by Al-Suyuti and Tahqiq 'Ulum al-Hadith by Al-Judai'.