## **Introduction**
In Islam, the sacred collection known as the *Hadith* (Arabic: “narrative” or “report”) preserves the words, actions, and approvals of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, his family, and his noble companions. Alongside the Qur’an, it forms the second great source of Islamic law, belief, and guidance.
While the Qur’an is the revealed word of Allah, the Hadith are the recorded expressions of the Prophet ﷺ — the one who lived the Qur’an in word, deed, and spirit. Through them, we learn how the Messenger ﷺ prayed, forgave, dealt with people, and reflected divine mercy in every aspect of life.
### **What is a Hadith?**
Each *Hadith* consists of two parts:
* the **Matn** — the text itself, containing the statement or action; and
* the **Isnad** — the chain of transmitters who narrated it from one person to another until it reached the collectors of Hadith.
For example:
> Narrated Hisham ibn ‘Urwah from his father, who said: [Isnad] While I was a youngster, I asked ‘A’isha, the wife of the Prophet ﷺ, “What about the meaning of the statement of Allah…” [Matn].
This structure ensured precision, reliability, and preservation — a method of transmission so meticulous that no other civilisation has matched it in recording historical speech.
—
### **How the Hadith Were Collected**
In the first three centuries of Islam, scholars travelled vast distances to gather and verify reports of the Prophet ﷺ. These early collectors examined each narrator’s life, character, and reliability. Only those whose integrity was beyond doubt were accepted.
By the second Islamic century (around 720 CE), the science of Hadith (*‘Ilm al-Hadith*) had become an established discipline, with scholars classifying narrations based on authenticity. Terms such as:
* **Sahih** (sound),
* **Hasan** (good), and
* **Da‘if** (weak)
were used to indicate the strength of a narration according to its chain of transmission.
Importantly, scholars did not rely on opinion or imagination when judging a Hadith. The question was not, *“Would the Prophet ﷺ likely have said this?”* but rather, *“Is the report of this statement supported by a trustworthy chain of witnesses?”* This preserved objectivity and prevented personal interpretation from influencing sacred knowledge.
—
### **Major Collections of Hadith**
Over time, several great compilers produced collections of Hadith that continue to be revered across the Muslim world. The earliest of these is the **Musnad of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal**, arranged according to the chain of narrators. Later, six other scholars organised their works by subject matter, and their collections came to be regarded as the most authentic in Sunni Islam:
1. Imam al-Bukhari (d. 870 CE)
2. Imam Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj (d. 875 CE)
3. Imam Abu Da’ud (d. 888 CE)
4. Imam al-Tirmidhi (d. 892 CE)
5. Imam Ibn Majah (d. 886 CE)
6. Imam al-Nasa’i (d. 915 CE)
Of these, the **Sahih of al-Bukhari** and the **Sahih of Muslim** are considered the most reliable and are known together as the *Two Sahihs* (*al-Sahihayn*). They hold a status second only to the Qur’an in authority and are quoted by scholars and students throughout the centuries.
—
### **Why Hadith Matters**
Hadith is not simply a historical record; it is the living bridge between divine revelation and daily life. Through Hadith, we understand the meanings of Qur’anic verses, the details of worship, the beauty of character, and the refinement of manners. It is through these narrations that the example of the Prophet ﷺ remains alive in every generation.
Muslim men and women, young and old, have studied and transmitted Hadith since the earliest centuries, ensuring that love for the Prophet ﷺ is not only spoken but lived.
> “Whoever revives my Sunnah has loved me, and whoever loves me will be with me in Paradise.” *(Tirmidhi)*
May Allah grant us understanding, sincerity, and love for the words and example of His Beloved Messenger ﷺ.