What Are Hadith?
An introduction to the recorded sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
Definition
A hadith (plural: ahadith) is a narration recording a saying, action, or approval of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Together, the body of hadith forms the Sunnah — the prophetic practice — which is the second foundational source of Islamic law and guidance after the Quran.
Each hadith has two parts: the isnad (chain of narrators tracing back to the Prophet) and the matn (the text of the narration itself). Scholars used the isnad to verify whether a hadith was reliably transmitted or possibly unreliable.
Why Hadith Matter
Explain the Quran
The Quran frequently commands acts of worship — prayer, fasting, zakah — in general terms. Hadith provide the essential details that make those commands actionable.
Preserve the Prophetic Example
The Quran (33:21) declares the Prophet an "excellent pattern." Hadith are the record of that pattern: how he prayed, spoke, ate, led, grieved, and celebrated.
Source of Islamic Law
In Islamic legal scholarship, the Sunnah (as recorded in hadith) is the second source of law after the Quran. Hundreds of rulings in Islamic jurisprudence are derived directly from hadith.
Structure of a Hadith
Every hadith has two parts. Here is an example with both parts labelled:
The Six Canonical Collections
Known as the Kutub al-Sittah (Six Books), these are the six most widely accepted hadith collections in Sunni Islam. They were compiled in the 9th century CE.
The most rigorously authenticated collection of hadith. Imam al-Bukhari spent 16 years compiling it, examining over 600,000 narrations and accepting only those that met his strict criteria.
Browse this collection →The second most authenticated collection. Known for its systematic arrangement and careful examination of isnad (chains of transmission).
Browse this collection →Focused on hadith relating to Islamic law (fiqh). Imam Abu Dawud examined 500,000 hadith and selected around 4,800 for this collection.
Browse this collection →Notable for grading each hadith and summarizing scholarly opinions on them. An invaluable reference for understanding how scholars differed on legal questions.
Browse this collection →Known for its high standards of scrutiny — some consider it more selective than the other Sunan collections. Particularly valued for hadith on prayer and ritual.
Browse this collection →The sixth of the canonical collections. Contains hadith on a wide range of topics including transactions, marriage, and prayer. Some hadith in it are graded weak.
Browse this collection →The Grading System
Islamic scholars developed a sophisticated system for evaluating hadith reliability. Every hadith in the major collections has been graded.
All narrators are trustworthy, the chain is unbroken, and the text has no defects.
Mostly meets the criteria for Sahih but has a slight weakness — often a narrator with good but not exceptional memory.
Has a problem in the chain of narrators or in the text. Cannot be used as evidence for legal rulings. May still be used for encouragement in some scholarly traditions.
A narration invented and falsely attributed to the Prophet. It is not permissible to transmit a fabricated hadith as coming from the Prophet.
How Were They Collected?
Prophetic Era (610–632 CE)
Companions listened to and observed the Prophet. Some wrote down his sayings in personal scrolls; most preserved them through memory and transmission to their students.
Companion Era (632–700 CE)
After the Prophet's death, his companions continued to transmit his sayings to students. Caliph 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz (r. 717–720 CE) ordered the first official collection of hadith.
Compilation Era (750–900 CE)
Scholars traveled across the Islamic world — from Spain to Central Asia — to find people who had heard hadith from reliable sources. Imam al-Bukhari reportedly examined 600,000 narrations before accepting 7,275 for his collection. The great Sunan collections were compiled in this period.
Ready to Read?
Start with the 40 Hadith of Nawawi — a short, carefully chosen collection covering the foundations of Islamic life.