Introduction of Hadith

Hadith, Arabic Ḥadīth (“News” or “Story”), also spelled Hadīt, record of the
traditions or sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, revered and received as a major
source of religious law and moral guidance, second only to the authority of the
Qurʾān

There are three types of Hadith:

The saying of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) are referred to as QAULI Following is
an example:
Let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day either speak good or keep silent,
and let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day be generous to his neighbour,
and let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day be generous to his guest.
Another example is:  
 None of you believes until he wants for his brother what he wants for
himself.           

Fili Hadith/ Sunnah : The activities which the great prophet (Sm) has done in the
capacity of being Rasul, are called 'Fili Hadith' or activity based Hadith. Following
is as example :
- Na'man ibn Bashir (ra) narrates : "When we stood up for prayers, the Messenger
of Allah (pbuh) would straighten our rows. When we stood straight, he would
then say Takbeer [i.e Allahu Akbar] [and start the prayer]." Another example of
Hadith Fili is:
Hazrat Aysha R.A reports that the Holy Prophet S.A.W used to seek refuge of Allah
against Dajjal
Using right hand to eat and drink, saying Bismillah before doing anything good,
greeting the kids, speaking politely to everyone. Use of Miswak, taking shower
and trimming nails on Friday, all are the examples of Fili Hadith Or Sunnah of the
Prophet S.A.W

The tacit approvals of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) are referred to as TAQRIRI
Hadith
Following is an example :
- It is narrated from Qais ibn 'Amr (ra) that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) saw a
person performing two rak'aha prayer after the morning obligatory prayer, so he
asked him : The morning prayer is two rak'aha ?, the man replied, "I did not
perform the two rak'aha before the obligatory prayer so I have prayed those two
now." The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was then silent [i.e gave his tacit
permission]

RULES OF AUTHENTICITY
Methods used by Muhadditheen (Compilers of Ahadith) to ensure the authenticity of Hadith
• The compilers of six authentic books applied a very strict criterion in selecting the Ahadith for their
books. They did not accept any Hadith that did not meet the set criteria. They checked the chain of
narrators as well as the text.
• Every Hadith is divided into two parts, the first part is the Sand (chain of narrators) and the second
is the Matn (text of Hadith). This is explained through the following Hadith, Muhammd bin Al
Muthanna reported from Abdul Wahab from Ayub from Abu Killabah, from Malik that the Prophet
(PBUH) said, “Pray as you have seen me offering prayer”. (Agreed upon)
The first part which mentions the chain of transmitters is the Sanad and the second part which the
body or text is the Matn. The Muhaddithun assessed both parts of the Hadith scrupulously.
Rules adopted to check authenticity of the chain of narrators (Isnaad)
1. For the Sanad, the chain of narrators were carefully studied through the art of Asma-Ur-Rijal.
(Asma-ur Rijal refers to the biographies related to the standing of narrators relating to their narrating
ability. In this branch of knowledge more than five lac narrator’s biographies were collected and
investigated in detail.
2. Every narrator in chain must be an “Aadil Muslim” which means that he must be pious, noble and
honest, God fearing and well-reputed Muslim.
3. The name, nick name, tittle, parentage, and occupation of the narrator should be known.
4. The narrator should not have been accused of having lied, giving false evidence or committing a
crime; otherwise there are more chances that he could bring changes in hadith to his false nature.
5. Even if the transmitter had ever cheated anyone or even lied to anyone in the matter of joke, the
Hadith is rejected.
6. It must be ensured that narrator had good memory and had preserved what he had heard.
7. Every narrator who refers his hadith to another narrator should have lived in the same period and
must meet the other narrator. In this way the chain of narrators must go right back to the Holy
Prophet (PBUH).
8. The narrator must have been physically, mentally and intellectually fit to understand and
remember the full importance and impact of all what he had heard. Narrator must be of an age at
which he could understand the full importance of Hadith.
9. Each transmitter must have known the transmitter before him, and also the transmitter after him.
10. The original narrator (last transmitter) in the chain of narrators must be a companion of the Holy
Prophet (PBUH) who had himself either heard The Holy Prophet (PBUH) spoke the particular words
or seen him performing the action quoted in the Hadith.
11. The chain of narration from beginning to the end had un-interrupted continuity.
Rules adopted to check authenticity of the Matn(Tex of Hadith)
1. The compilers ensured that the text of Hadith should not be in conflict with the content, spirit,
philosophy or the commandments of the Holy Quran in any manner.
2. It should not in conflict with the content of a Hadith which had already stood the test of reliability /
authenticity or the consensus (Ijma) of the community. For example the Hadith will not be accepted
if it says to offer four daily prayers.
3. It should not be against the historical facts already established and proved.
4. It should not be against the dictates of human reasoning, logic, known principles of human society,
rationale of common sense or the laws of nature. For instance, “brushing teeth increases wisdom” or
Hadith about Auj bin Anaq is rejected due to its unnatural text.
5. The Matn (Text) should have pure Arabic text in Quraish’s dialect as the Prophet’s (PBUH)
language was pure and perfect.
6. It must not, in any way, hurl accusation or derogatory to the Holy Prophet (PBUH), his family and
companions.
7. The Hadith which promised a high reward for a small virtue, or severe punishment for the minor
sins was rejected.
8. The text which referred to actions which that should have been commonly known and practiced by
others but they were not known and practiced is rejected.
9. A Hadith reported by large number of people in different times whose agreement on lie is became
inconceivable was accepted.
In short Hadith researchers paid critical attention to the science of biographies and criticism (Asma’
al Rijal) of the hadith narrators in each generation. And so, narrators of hadith (isnad) were subjected
to severe tests and were graded according to varying degrees of reliability and genuineness
depending upon their character, religious reputation and orientation, depth of knowledge, and the
soundness and accuracy of their memories.
ADD THE TYPES OF HADITH ON THE BASIS OF AUTHENTICITY
SAHIH
HASSAN
DAEEF
MODU