2. Contents:-
1. Definition of Hadith – literal and technical
2. Subject matter of Hadith
3. Aims and Objectives of Hadith
4. Authority of Hdith
5. Compilation of Ahaadith and types of books in Hadith
6. Some famous scholars in the field of Hadith
7. Ranks of the Books of Hadeeth
3. Definition of Hadith
Literal meaning of ‘Hadith’
The word Hadith is singular and means Kalaam (speech). The plural is Ahaadith.
Definition of Hadith
The knowledge of the sayings of Rasulullah ﷺ, his actions, conditions,
acknowledgements of actions and that of his Sahaba [أجمعين عليهم هللا ]رضوان and those
beyond them (who are followed in Deen).
4. SUBJECT MATTER OF HADITH
• Kirmaaniy (B.224AH; D.310AH) states that the subject matter of Hadith is the
personality of Rasulullah [Sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam] as a prophet.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF HADITH
• The purpose of studying Hadith is to obtain the guidance of Rasulullah
ﷺ and thereby be successful in the world and hereafter.
5. Authority of Hdith
Holy Quran:
It is obvious that the orders of Rasulullah ﷺ are by Divine Order.
" ىَحوُي ٌيْح َو َّالِإ َوُه ْنِإ ،ى َوَهْال ِنَع ُقِنطَي اَم َو
-
النجم
4:3
. "
Translation: ‘And he (Rasulullahﷺ ) does not speak from desires. It is not but revelation
sent to him.’
6. COMPILATION OF AHAADITH
There were three methods used to preserve the Ahaadith of Rasulullah ﷺ:
• Memory,
• Practice,
• Writing
Sayyiduna Abdullah Ibn Amr Ibn 'Aas [Radhiyallahu 'anhu] states, ‘I used to write down
everything I used to hear from Rasulullah ﷺ.My purpose was to preserve (whatever Ahaadith I
hear). The Quraysh stopped me and said, ‘You write everything you hear whereas Rasulullah ﷺ is a
human being. He talks in anger and in happiness.’ I stopped writing and mentioned that to
Rasulullah ﷺ. He ﷺ indicated with his finger to his mouth and said, "(Continue) writing. By Him in
whose soul is my life, nothing comes out from it (the mouth) but Haqq."
7. Types of Books of Hadeeth
There are many different types of compilations of hadeeth, each of which has gained a specific name. Some of
these type of books of hadeeth are:
• Saheeh: That book whose compiler indicated that he has only included Saheeh hadeeth. As Sahah e Sitta
• Jaami’: That book which includes hadeeth categorized under the following eight categories: Siyar, Aadaab,
Tafseer, ‘Aqaa’id, Futun, Ahkaam, Ishraat and Manaaqib. For example, Bukhaari and Tirmidhi.
• Sunan: That book which only includes hadeeth that are related to rules (ahkaam). For example, Sunan Abu
Dawood and Nisaa’i.
• Musnad: That book which is arranged by the order of the name of the Sahaabah who narrated the hadeeth.
For example, Musnad Imaam Ahmad.
• Mu’jam: That book which is arranged by the order of the shuyookh who narrated the hadeeth. For example,
Mu’jam Tabaraani.
8. • Mustakhrij: That book in which the compiler brings chains from other shuyookh besides the author of
another book to support the hadeeth of that author’s book. For example Mustakhraj Abi Nu’aym on
Bukhaari.
• Mustadrik: That book which includes hadeeth under various headings which another author has left out
of his book. For example, Mustadrik Haakim includes hadeeth that are not in the two Saheeh but which
Imaam Haakim has indicated as satisfying the conditions for authenticity that were followed by
Bukhaari and Muslim.
• Risaalah: That book which only contains hadeeth under the heading of one of the eight headings
mentioned in the Jaami’. For example, Imaam Ahmad’s book of Zuhd which falls under aadaab and Ibn
Jareer’s book of tafseer.
• Juz: That smaller book which only contains hadeeth about a particular subject. For example, Imaam
Bukhaari’s Juz Qira’ah Khalf al-Imaam.
• Arba’een: A collection of 40 hadeeth. For example, Arba’een-e-Nawawi.
9. Ranks of the Books of Hadeeth
Shah Waliyullah has specified four ranks of books of hadeeth with regard to their reliability, fame and
acceptability.
The first contains those books whose reliability is strongly agreed upon. For example, Saheeh Bukhaari, Saheeh
Muslim, Mu’atta Imaam Maalik.
The second rank are close in fame and reliability to the first. Most of the hadeeth in such books are either
saheeh or hasan. Some da’eef hadeeth may also be included but they are clearly indicated. For example, Jaami’
Tirmidhi, and the Sunans of Abu Dawood and Nisaa’i.
The third level are those books whose authors preceded or were contemporaries of Bukhaari and Muslim. The
competence of these scholars is firmly established but in their collections they also included da’eef hadeeth and
even sometimes those which were known to be fabricated. For example, Musnad Shaafi’i, Sunan Ibn Maajah,
Musannaf ‘Abdur-Razzaaq, Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Sunan Daarimi, Sunan Daaraqutni and Sunan Bayhaqi.
Fourthly, there are those books of the later scholars which include hadeeth that are not found to be related by
the scholars of the early era. The reason for this might be that either the previous scholars were not aware of
those hadeeth or they left them alone because of some defect (‘ilal). Some examples of such collections are
Daylami, Abu Nu’aym, Ibn ‘Asaa and others.
