6.4 — Main Compilers and Their Activities

2026 Syllabus Objectives

Candidates should study:

  • The main compilers of Hadith and their key activities

Main Content

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Background: Why Were Hadith Compiled?

After the passing of Prophet Muhammad PBUH, the Muslim community needed a reliable record of everything he PBUH said and did. Scholars dedicated their entire lives to travelling across the Islamic world, collecting, verifying, and organising these narrations. These scholars are known as Muhaddithin (scholars of Hadith). Their work preserved the Sunnah for all future generations of Muslims.

The Six Most Authentic Books — Sihah-e-Sittah

The six most authentic and well-known collections of Hadith are called Sihah-e-Sittah, which means "the six authentic books." These are:

No.Book NameCompiler
1Sahih BukhariImam Bukhari
2Sahih MuslimImam Muslim
3Sunan Abu DawudImam Abu Dawud
4Jami TirmiziImam Tirmizi
5Sunan An-NasaiImam An-Nasai
6Sunan Ibn MajahImam Ibn Majah

These six books are considered the highest standard of Hadith scholarship in Sunni Islam.

The Main Compilers

1. Imam Malik RZ

Personal Life & Background
  • Full Name: Malik bin Anas bin Malik
  • Born: 93 A.H. in Madinah
  • His family originally came from Yemen but had settled in Madinah at the time of Prophet Muhammad PBUH
  • His father paid great attention to his education and encouraged him to focus on his studies

The Pigeon Story: When Imam Malik RZ was young, he once gave a wrong answer to a question. His father pointed out that this was because he had been spending too much time playing with pigeons. This lesson stayed with him, and from that point on he devoted himself completely to learning.

How He Collected Hadith
  • Unlike other compilers, Imam Malik RZ did not travel widely to collect Hadith
  • Madinah was the most important centre of Islamic knowledge, and famous scholars from all over the world would visit it regularly
  • Imam Malik RZ made use of this opportunity wisely — he learnt from the best scholars who came to him, and memorised thousands of Hadith throughout his life
  • He had over a thousand students
His Character and Principles

Imam Malik RZ was known for his strong principles and his commitment to justice in knowledge:

  • Incident with Caliph Abu Jafar: The Caliph asked Imam Malik RZ to read his book to the princes privately. Imam Malik RZ replied with dignity: "Knowledge does not go to the people, but people come to it."
  • When the Caliph asked that other students not join the class, Imam Malik RZ refused, saying all students would sit wherever they found a place
  • He was once physically punished by order of the Governor of Madinah because one of his legal rulings (fatwas) was seen as going against the government — yet he never compromised his integrity
His Famous Work — Al-Muwatta
  • His most famous book is Al-Muwatta, which means "the well-trodden path"
  • Al-Muwatta is not a purely Hadith collection — it is a combination of:
    • Hadith of Prophet Muhammad PBUH
    • Legal opinions of the Companions RZ and their Successors
    • Consensus opinions of the scholars of Madinah
  • He focused especially on Hadith that were connected to legal and practical Islamic rulings
  • He frequently referred to the unanimous agreement of Madinah scholars on matters where no direct Hadith existed
His Legacy
  • Imam Malik RZ is the founder of the Maliki School of Thought, one of the four major schools of Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh)
  • His other works include Kitab al-Siyar and Kitab al-Manasik

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