Hadiths are essential to Islamic teachings. They provide guidance for Muslims in their everyday lives, foster spiritual development, and present insights into Islam’s ethical and moral principles. They are the foundation that points Muslims in the right direction about how to spend their lives.
Hadith comes from Arabic and means ‘speech’ or ‘report.’ However, in Islam, it is the saying of the Prophet PBUH. This blog will answer the question of ‘what is a hadith’ in detail while also explaining other concepts crucial to understanding a hadith.
What Is A Hadith?
Islam has two primary sources of information. The first is the Quran, the direct word of Allah brought by Jibreel AS, and the second is the Prophet PBUH’s teachings. These teachings are known as sunnah and are found in texts called hadith. These hadiths lay a foundation for different matters within Islamic society and make it easier to follow the right path.
The Importance Of Hadith
When the Prophet PBUH died, the message of Islam was also completed. Therefore, preserving the Quran wasn’t only limited to the text but its meaning. And that meaning is explained in absolute detail in the hadith. Seeing as the Quran is a concise book, most of its verses convey a general meaning until studied in greater detail.
For example, the Quran says that “fasting is prescribed for you,” but it doesn’t mention in which way one is supposed to fast. Neither does it explain the things that break a person’s fast. Hadith explains all those things in great detail. Therefore, hadiths provide the context to the Quranic verses in a way that anybody can understand. Without fully understanding the Quran, we can’t follow it to the full extent.
The Compilation Of The Hadith
Hadiths are collected by Muhaddiths such as Imam Muslim and Iman Bukhari in their hadith collections—the collection and compilation of hadiths in an extensive process which involves many stages and rules. The compilers of the hadith go through many criteria to determine if the narrator of the hadiths is authentic. It is recorded that Imam Bukhari traveled a long way to collect hadith. He gathered over 100,000 hadith, but only about 7,000 are included in his Sahih collection.
The Authentication Of Hadith
A hadith is comprised of two parts: the chain of transmission (isnad) and the text itself (matn). For a hadith to be considered authentic, the isnad must satisfy the following criteria:
- The chain of narrators must be continuous.
- There must be all transmitters in the chain.
- Each narrator must have directly heard the hadith from the narrator before them.
- The chain must trace all the way back to the Prophet or one of his Companions.
- Each narrator must be a believer in Islam and have a sound character.
- Each narrator should possess a robust and reliable memory.
Regarding the matn, it must be free from any defects or irregularities. If a hadith meets all these criteria, Muslim scholars classify it as authentic. Conversely, if any criteria are not fulfilled, it is considered a weak hadith.
Types Of Hadith
The extensive collection of ahadith we have today originated from the efforts of the sahabah (companions of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him) and their successors, who memorized, documented, and shared his sayings and actions. As numerous scholars gathered hundreds of thousands of narrations, distinguishing authentic reports from false ones became essential. This need led to the development of the science of hadith, which categorizes genuine sayings and actions of the Prophet from inauthentic ones.
Classifying hadith is a rigorous discipline that follows strict guidelines established over centuries. Various methods exist for categorizing ahadith, including examining defects in the text (matn) or chain of transmission (isnad), the number of narrators in the isnad, and the manner of reporting the matn.
The most recognized method focuses on the reliability and memory of the narrators. In this classification system, ahadith are categorized as saheeh (sound), hasan (good), daeef (weak), or mawdu (fabricated or forged).
Saheeh
This category represents the most authentic and reliable type of ahadith. According to the hadith scholar Ibn As-Salah a saheeh hadith has a continuous chain of transmission (isnad) composed of trustworthy narrators with solid memories. It is also accessible from irregularities in the text (matn) and the chain.
Example
The Prophet (PBUH) stated, “A person does not truly have faith until he loves me more than his own father, his children, and all other people.”
Hasan
The term “hasan” translates to “good.” Ibn As-Salah describes a Hasan hadith as one that is slightly less rigorous than a saheeh hadith. While it is free from irregularities in both the matn and isnad, one or more narrators may have a less reliable memory or the hadith may not meet all the stringent criteria for saheeh classification.
Both saheeh and hasan ahadith can be used to support legal rulings or arguments. Additionally, several ahadith classified as daeef can potentially elevate each other to the level of Hasan if the weaknesses in the narrators are deemed minor. However, if the weaknesses are significant, the hadith will remain classified as daeef.
Example
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “A single rider is like a Shaitan, and two riders are like two Shaitan. When there are three, they form a traveling group.”
Daeef
A hadith that does not meet the criteria for Hasan is termed daeef (weak). This weakness may arise from a broken isnad or issues with one or more of the narrators, such as having an unreliable memory.
Example
“There is no valid fast for anyone unless they make the intention to fast before dawn.” [Sunan an-Nasa’i 2341]
Mawdu
A mawdu hadith is fabricated or forged. The text of a mawdu hadith often contradicts established norms or contains errors or discrepancies regarding dates or events. Various reasons for the fabrication of ahadith include political rivalries, storytelling embellishments, proverbs being misrepresented as ahadith, personal biases, and intentional misinformation.
Note: It is impermissible to quote a mawdu hadith as it is not authentic.
Example
The Prophet PBUH said that conversation in the Masjid eats up good deeds the way animals consume grass. (This hadith is devoid of isnad)