Al-Sh?tib??s understanding of hadith and sunnah in al-Muv?faq?t

This thesis has been carried out in order to examine Ebu Ishak al-Shatibi (d. 790/1338), who was one of the prominent scholars of Andalusia, and his view of hadith and sunnah in his famous work, al-Muvafaqat.The study consists of an introduction and four chapters. In the introduction, the topic, goal, significance, method, and sources of the thesis have been explained.In Chapter One, along with its historical background, the city of Andalusia, where al-Shatibî had raised, has been introduced since it had a great impact on al-Shatibi?s understanding of hadith and sunnah.In Chapter Two, al-Shatibi?s life, masters, pupils, writings, and scholarly personality have been analyzed in order to have a better understanding of the basic components that constructed al-Shatibi?s system of thought.Divided into the foundational notions and elements that formed his understanding, in Chapter Three, al-Shatibi?s view of hadith and sunnah has been presented in a systematic and comprehensive way.In Chapter Four, the relation of the sunnah to the Qur?an, which plays an essential role in al-Shatibi?s perspective of hadith and sunnah, has been examined. In the conclusion, the facts gathered in this study have been given.Key Words: Hadith, Sunnah, The Book (Qur?an), al-Shatibi, al-Muvafaqat, the understanding of Hadith and Sunnah.