Public PhD Viva-Voce Examination of Ms. Hasnaa Hameed Abdullah Thamer

The Public Viva-Voce Examination for the PhD Dissertation hereto entitled, “Al-Jawhar Ash-Shaffāf Al-Multaqat min Maghāṣāt al-Kashshāf (The Purest Gems Gathered by Pearl Divers from the Ocean’s Depths), by Abdullah bin Al-Hadi Yahya bin Hamza (d. 793 Hijri), focusing on the study and critical edition of the text from the beginning of Surah Al-Qasas to the end of Surah Al-Ahzab: A Study and Investigation”, submitted by Ms. Hasnaa Hameed Abdullah Thamer, to the Department of Islamic Studies, at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Sana’a University, was held on Sunday, Dhu al-Qa’dah 13, 1446 Hijri, corresponding to May 11, 2025. The Viva-Voce Committee, which was formed based on a resolution issued by the Post-Graduate Studies and Scientific Research Council, consisted of the following:

This study aimed to:

• Introduce the author, Abdullah bin Al-Hadi Yahya bin Hamza.

• Introduce his book Al-Jawhar Ash-Shaffāf Al-Multaqat min Maghāṣāt al-Kashshāf (The Purest Gems Gathered by Pearl Divers from the Ocean’s Depths) and highlight its merits.

• Critically edit and study this manuscript using a scholarly approach.

• Produce a sound and accurate edition of the book’s text.

• Study the book in terms of the author’s methodology and discuss his opinions.

• Identify the sources from which the author, Abdullah bin Al-Hadi bin Al-Imam Yahya bin Hamza, drew his material.

The study reached several key findings, including:

• The author, Abdullah bin Al-Hadi, did not adhere strictly to the wording of Hadith (Prophetic traditions) but rather focused on their meaning.

• The author, Abdullah bin Al-Hadi Yahya bin Hamza, was born in Dhamar.

• The scholar Abdullah bin Al-Hadi enriched the Islamic scholarly library with a valuable interpretive resource indispensable for scholars and intellectuals.

• The author, Abdullah bin Al-Hadi, possessed an enlightened intellect derived from his Zaidi school of thought.

The study concluded with several recommendations, including:

• Searching for and investigating neglected heritage, striving for its study and critical edition.

• Encouraging researchers and editors to select heritage books for critical editions, while also engaging in new and purposeful legitimate topics.

• Emphasizing the role of books and manuscripts and provide material support for collecting, cataloging, restoring, photographing, and preserving Yemeni manuscripts as electronic copies.

The PhD dissertation was examined and recommended by the Viva-Voce Committee for acceptance and approval. The Candidate was recommended to be awarded the degree of PhD. The defense was attended by a number of academics, researchers, students, interested individuals, as well as the candidate’s colleagues and family members.

A video from the Viva-Voce