alHadith

Al-Hadith refers to the corpus of reports describing the words, actions, and approvals of the Prophet Muhammad, as transmitted by his companions and subsequent narrators. The term hadith means "report" or "narrative" in Arabic. Together with the Qur'an, hadith is a foundational source of Islamic law (fiqh) and theology, shaping practices, beliefs, and ethics.

Hadith are evaluated through isnad (the chain of transmission) and matn (the text). A report with a continuous and reliable isnad is preferred; the science of hadith (uṣūl al-ḥadīth) classifies narrations as mutawatir (widely transmitted) or ahad (single chain). Ahad reports are further graded by scholars as sahih (sound), hasan (good), or da'if (weak). Criteria include memory, reliability, and non-contradiction with the Qur'an and established hadiths. Scholars also examine narrator biographies to detect fabrications.

Major Sunni collections, compiled in the 9th and 10th centuries, include Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, followed by Sunan Abi Dawood, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasa'i, and Ibn Majah. Other significant works include Musnad Ahmad and the works of al-Darimi. Shia Islam maintains its own hadith corpus, such as Al-Kafi, Man La Yahduruh al-Faqih, and others.

Purpose and use: hadith provide guidance on rituals, ethics, law, and the Prophet’s sunna. They are not worshipped themselves but are treated as evidence for rulings when authenticated. Modern scholarship emphasizes critical methods to assess authenticity and to distinguish core teachings from weak or fabricated reports.