Hadith

Hadith refers to reports describing the words, actions, or approvals of the Prophet Muhammad, or statements attributed to him by his companions, preserved through a chain of narrators. Along with the Qur’an, hadith constitutes the basis of the Sunnah, guiding religious practice, law, ethics, and belief. Each report contains two elements: the matn (text) and the isnad (chain of transmitters). The isnad connects the report to the Prophet through successive narrators, whose reliability is evaluated by scholars.

The science of hadith (ʿilm al-ḥadīth) classifies reports by reliability. Common categories include sahih (sound), hasan (good), and daʿif (weak). Evaluation considers chain length and integrity, narrator memory (rijal), corroboration with other sources, and consistency with the Qur’an and established practice. Early Islamic scholarship produced prominent collections, especially among Sunnis, with Shia scholars also developing their own respected works and methodologies.

Major Sunni collections include Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abu Dawood, Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Sunan al-Nasa’i, and Sunan Ibn Majah; the Muwatta of Malik and the Musnad of Ahmad are also influential. For Shia Islam, primary sources include Al-Kafi, Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih, Tahdhib al-Akhkam, and Al-Istibsar. Hadith can be classified as hadith qudsi when attributed to God but reported by the Prophet, or as reports of the Prophet’s actions or approvals. Modern scholarship recognizes the important role of hadith while noting authenticity concerns and differentiating ethical guidance from binding law, often relying on the Qur’an and established consensus.