Hadiths contain the sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and are one of the primary sources of information in Islam. They contain a comprehensive framework of life for Muslims, while also shedding light on every problem they may encounter in their lives.
The Hadith teaches one how to live in a society and ensure that the Muslim community is a beacon of functionality and peace. Just as different kinds of information sources in Islam, hadith also has many types, which this blog will cover in detail.
Basis Of Classifying Hadiths Into Different Types
There are specific rules that scholars follow when classifying hadiths into different types. These rules ensure that hadith classification is conducted with utmost precision, thereby eliminating any chance of confusion. Such as,
- Categorizing the hadith based on its chain of narrators (isnad).
- Based on who the hadith was attributed to.
- Whether the hadith is accepted or rejected.
- Categorizing based on a hadith fulfilling the conditions of acceptability.
Classification based on Attribution
This category is solely based on who is speaking in the hadith or to whom the hadith is attributed.
Hadith Al-Qudsi
This is the kind of hadith transmitted to the Muslims from the Prophet PBUH, in which he attributes the words of the hadith to Allah SWT. These are the kinds of hadith in which the narrator says, “The Prophet PBUH stated, narrating from Allah SWT, may He be exalted,” and so on.
Example
According to Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, Allah, the Almighty, stated that whoever harbors enmity towards someone who is devoted to Me, I will be at war with that person.
Note: The hadith continues onward and is very long, but only a part of it is mentioned here to give the readers an example of what a hadith al-qudsi looks like.
Hadith Al-Nabawi
Hadith al-Nabawi is also known as a marfoo hadith. This is the kind of hadith in which the words are attributed to the Prophet PBUH. In this hadith, the companions of the Prophet PBUH report about his statements, deeds, approved actions, or things that happened in his presence.
Example
Abdullah, the son of Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), narrated that he heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say, “Islam is founded upon five pillars: declaring that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, establishing prayer, giving zakat (obligatory charity), performing the pilgrimage to the Kaaba, and fasting during Ramadan.”
[Hadith 3, 40 Hadith an-Nawawi]
Mawqoof Hadith
Mawqoof hadith is the type in which the words of the hadith are attributed to the Sahabi (companions of the Prophet PBUH). In these hadiths, the actions and words are those that come from the companions and not the Prophet PBUH.
Maqtoo Hadith
This is a hadith in which words, actions, approvals, or descriptions are attributed to the Taabi‘i. It is also known as an “athar” (a report).
Classification based on Isnad
isnad is defined as the chain of narrators who narrated the hadith from the one who spoke it. It is an extremely important aspect when classifying hadith because it tells the scholars how authentic a hadith is. There are two types of hadith concerning isnad.
Mutawaatir Hadith
Mutawaatir is a type of hadith that is narrated through many isnads and narrations. One of the primary indications of a mutawaatir hadith is that the chain of narrators is so extensive that it becomes improbable for them to agree upon a lie.
Example
Abu Sa’eed reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever intentionally lies about me, then let them take their place in Hell.”
[Sunan Ibn Majah 37]
Ahaad Hadith
Also known as a khabar wahid, it is the hadith whose number of narrators doesn’t reach the mutawaatir hadith. The ahadith are further classified into three types.
Gharib
The term ‘gharib’ translates to ‘scarce’ or ‘strange.’ A gharib hadith is one that is narrated by one isnad and one narration.
Example
Abu Huraira narrated that God’s Messenger said, “Travel is a part of punishment, causing a person to miss sleep, food, and drink; therefore, once he has achieved his goal at his destination, he should quickly return to his family.”
[Mishkat al-Masabih 3899]
Aziz
‘Aziz’ translates to ‘rare’ or ‘strong.’ An aziz hadith is one in which, at any stage in its isnad, two reporters have narrated the hadith.
Example
Anas ibn Malik reported that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “A person has not achieved true faith until I am more loved by him than his own child, his father, and all others.”
[Sunan Ibn Majah 67]
Mashhur
‘Mashhur’ translates to ‘famous.’ A mashhur hadith is one that has more than two reporters. A mashhur hadith may only be reported by two reporters initially, but it becomes popular later on. According to some scholars, every narrative that becomes popular is referred to as mashhur, regardless of its authentic origin.
Classification based on Acceptance
When the hadith scholars looked at the rulings of a hadith and whether the hadith was an accepted or rejected one, they categorized the accepted hadiths in the following way.
Maqbool
A maqbool hadith is one that is accepted and fulfills all the conditions of acceptability. This kind of hadith is permissible for quoting as evidence and acting upon. The scholars further divided accepted hadiths into two more categories.
Sahih
A sahih hadith is the most genuine and dependable form of hadith. A saheeh hadith features a continuous chain of transmission (isnad) comprising trustworthy narrators who possess strong memories.
Example
Anas ibn Malik reported that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “A person has not achieved true faith until I am more loved by him than his own child, his father, and all others.”
[Sunan Ibn Majah 67]
Hasan
The term “hasan” means “good.” A Hasan hadith is one that is slightly less rigorous than a Saheeh hadith. Although it is free from irregularities in both the text (matn) and chain of narrators (isnad), it may include one or more narrators with less reliable memory, or it might not fully meet all the strict standards required for a Saheeh classification.
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.”
Classification On The Basis of Rejection
Looking at the criteria of rejection, scholars categorized the hadiths in the following way:
Mardood
Mardood hadiths are hadiths that are rejected by the scholars. These hadiths do not fulfill the conditions of acceptability. Mardood hadiths are further divided into two more categories.
Daif
A daif hadith is one that doesn’t fulfill any conditions of acceptability and is therefore considered 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
Mawdu hadith is a hadith that is forged or fabricated. The authentication of a mawdu hadith can’t be found in the texts and is therefore rejected by scholars. Reasons for the fabrication of ahadith encompass political rivalries, embellishments through storytelling, the misrepresentation of proverbs as ahadith, personal biases, and deliberate spreading of false information.
Example
Seek knowledge, even if you have to go to China.