Collection of Hadith & Its Status In Shari’ah

1. Collection of Hadith& Its Status In Shari’ah Prepared & Presented by Jamal M. Ashraff

2. Introduction • Hadith (Sunnah) is the 2nd primary source of Shari’ah (Islamic Law) upon which every Muslim rests the fabric of his faith & life. Hadith stands 2nd as the ‘hidden revelation’ (wahykhafi). • The Hadith, in short, is the storerooms of the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) serving an essential need of the Muslims, be they individuals or communities. **Note: Sunnah literally means the way & the pattern of life whether good or bad.**

3. Hadith by definition • Hadith means literally new as opposed to old. Generally all the sayings reported from a person through the media of hearing or revelations are thus considered Hadith. • Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) said: ‘Indeed, I was given the Qur’an & the like of it (i.e. Sunnah) with it’. Recorded Al-Bukhari • [We sent them] with clear proofs and written ordinances. And We revealed to you the message that you may make clear to the people what was sent down to them and that they might give thought.  Noble Qur’an Ch. An Nahl V.44

4. Explanation One • Explanation One: An explanation of its wording & their arrangements. This means: Conveying the Qur’an & not concealing it, and presenting it to the people just as God revealed it to Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) • O Messenger, announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message. And Allah will protect you from the people. Indeed, Allah does not guide the disbelieving people. Noble Qur’an Ch.Ma’idah V.67 • Ayesha (R.A.) said: ‘Whoever says that Muhammad (S.A.W.) concealed something that he was commanded to convey, then he has put forth a great lie against Allah (God)’. Recorded in Al-Bukhari & Muslim

5. Explanation Two • Explanation Two: An explanation of the meaning of the word or the sentence or the verse that the Ummah (community) needs to have explained. This occurs a majority of the time with the: Ambiguous (mujmul) 2. General (‘aam) 3. Absolute (mutlaq) • So the Hadith (Sunnah) came to clarify the ambiguous, make specific the general and restrict the absolute. This was achieved by way of the Prophet’s statement, as well as his actions & approval.

6. Hadith Collection Process • Islam spread throughout the world with miraculous speed. Within a century, the Azan (call for prayer) was heard internationally. • As far as the other Eastern religions are concerned, their followers build gorgeous temples for the deities but the Muslims on the contrary, wrote systematic science like: • “Asma al-Rijal” the science to verify the narrators of the Traditions of Muhammad (S.A.W.) as to who reported & from who & what was the character of the reporters both in public & his private life. • This was a tremendous task but the early Muslims devoted their life-time to this study of the science of theology. • Every Hadith consist of two sections: Isnad or Sanad (chains of the reporters) & Matn (text of Hadith).

7. Science of Asma al-Rijal • Asma al-Rijalwhch literally means the names of the men. It is the biography & criticism of the narrators of the Hadith or any such aspect of their life as may be helped in determining their identity, veracity & reliability.

8. Science of Asma al-Rijal • Such tedious work resulted in the following six Canonical Collections (SahahSittah) & they are: The Sahih of al-Bukhari (d.256A.H. = 870A.D.) The Sahih of al-Muslim (d.261A.H. = 875A.D.) The Sunnan of IbnMajah (d.237A.H. = 887A.D.) The Sunnan of Abu Da’ud (d.275A.H. = 888A.D.) The Jami of al-Tirmidhi (d.279A.H. = 892A.D.) The Sunan of al-Nasa’i (d.303A.H. = 915A.D.)

9. Science of Asma al-Rijal • The following is a summary of the principles of criticisms of the Isnad(chains of the reporters): • All the Traditions must be traced back to its original reporter through a chain of transmitters. These transmitters must be of excellent character, truthful & must have a good retentive memory & high qualities of head & heart. • Every Tradition which reported an event or happening that occurred frequently in the presence of a large number of people must have been originally reported by several narrators. • As far as the Matn(text of Hadith) is concerned, the following principals of criticism of the Hadith are laid down: • The Hadith should not be contrary to the text or the teachings of the Qur’an or the accepted basic  principles of Islam.

10. Science of Asma al-Rijal • The Hadith should not be against the dictates or reasons or laws of nature & common experience. • The Hadith should not be contrary to the Traditions which have already been accepted by the authorities as reliable & authentic by applying all the principles. • The Hadith which sings the praises & excellence of any tribe, place or persons should be generally rejected. • The Hadith that contains the dates & minute details of the future events should be rejected. • The Hadith that contains some remarks of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) which are not in keeping with the Islamic belief of the Prophet hood & the position of the Noble Prophet (S.A.W.) or such expression as may not be suitable to him, should also be rejected. • Such strict principles of the criticism of the Hadith are extremely necessary since the Traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) are of great importance.

11. Classification of Hadith The Scholars of Hadith literature have divided the Traditions into 3 categories according to the degree of their reliability. This classification was based on: • The perfection or imperfection of the chain of their transmitters • The freedom of the tests from any concealed defects • Acceptance or rejection of any Hadith by the Companions (Ashab)

12. Classification of Hadith • The 3 categories of the Hadith according to their quality are: • The Sahih: These are the genuine Traditions so declared after applying all tests. • The Hasan: These are the fair Traditions although inferior in the matter of authenticity to the Sahih. • The Da’if: These are the weak Traditions which are not so very reliable.

13. Classification of Hadith • Note.: Rigid method of classification has resulted in filtering out what is Sahih from Da’if. Imam Bukhari examined 600,000 traditions (Hadith) of which he accepted only 7,397. • It was through this science that the study of life history of 500,000 narrators has been done as preserved for the posterity. In no other religion has so much pain been taken for such detailed studies.

14. Conclusion • Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur'an and indeed, We will be its guardian. Noble Qur’an Ch. Al Hijr V. 9 • The importance of Hadith collections, verification & authenticating - started right after the demise of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.). During his lifetime Hadith were written down by his companions, memorized & transmitted to the next generation of Muslims. • Science of Hadith is a vast subject on its own. Developed over time with strict principals governing its comprehension & application in our daily lives. • Like in the past, today Muslims adhere to the sayings, actions & approval of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) serious as it is directly related to Worship.

15. Conclusion • Qur’an clearly states - Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) was sent to mankind as a Mercy & giver of GLAD TIDING. Ye have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the Praise of Allah. Noble Qur’an Chapter Al-Ahzab V.21 • Hadith compliments Qur’an without which much of the Qur’anic injunctions cannot be understood entirely. In other words, Hadith (Sunnah) is the pragmatic essence of the Noble Qur’an.