6.1 — History of the Compilation of the Hadiths

📌 Syllabus Objective

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Candidates should study the history of the compilation of the Hadiths.

📖 Main Content

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1. What is a Hadith? What is Sunnah?

Before studying the history of compilation, it is important to understand what these two terms mean.

  • Hadith (plural: Ahadith) refers to the sayings, actions, silent approvals, and descriptions of Prophet Muhammad PBUH — as reported and recorded by his companions RZ.
  • Sunnah refers to the practices and actions of Prophet Muhammad PBUH — how he lived, prayed, ate, dealt with people, and so on.
  • The word Hadith comes from the Arabic root word Hadasa, which means "to be new" (the opposite of ancient).
  • The Sunnah is what Prophet Muhammad PBUH did, while Hadith is the channel — the means through which that Sunnah was recorded, preserved, and passed on to future generations.

2. The Position and Importance of Hadith in Islam

Hadith and Sunnah together form the second source of Islamic law, after the Holy Quran.

Why are Ahadith so important?

  • The Holy Quran gives general commands and principles. The Ahadith explain, expand, and give detail to those commands.
  • Without the Ahadith, Muslims would not know how to carry out many of the instructions given in the Quran.

Examples of how Ahadith explain the Quran:

Quranic InstructionWhat Ahadith Add
Establish prayers at the two ends of the dayAhadith explain the exact timings, the number of rakaat, and the full procedure of Salah
Pay the ZakatAhadith specify the exact rates, the types of wealth it applies to, and rules for its collection and distribution
Perform the pilgrimage to MakkahAhadith explain the complete procedure of Hajj step by step, its spiritual virtues, and its conditions

The Quran's own words about following Prophet Muhammad PBUH:

The Quran directly commands Muslims to follow the Prophet PBUH in their daily lives. It states that whatever the Messenger commands should be taken, and whatever he forbids should be avoided. It also declares that the Prophet PBUH is a perfect example for believers. These Quranic instructions make it clear that following the Ahadith is not optional — it is a religious duty.

Prophet Muhammad PBUH encouraged the spreading of Ahadith:

Prophet Muhammad PBUH himself urged his companions RZ to pass on his teachings to others. He taught that even passing on a single piece of knowledge from him was a responsibility. He also said that Allah SWT blesses the person who hears his words, remembers them carefully, and then passes them on to others. This shows that preserving and sharing Ahadith is an act of worship.

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