Hadith: Meaning, Components, Types & Importance – JSS2 Islamic Studies Lesson Note (Second Term)

Hadith is the record of the sayings, actions and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

• Arabic meaning: the word “Hadith” means “statement” or “talk”.
• Islamic meaning: what the Prophet said, did, approved of or disapproved of in his lifetime.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. explain the meaning of Hadith and state its place among the sources of Islamic teaching;
2. name the two components of a Hadith (matn and isnad);
3. list the types of Hadith by what was reported, by number of narrators and by authenticity;
4. describe how Hadith was preserved and name the six major collections;
5. state the importance of Hadith in a Muslim’s life.

What is the place of Hadith in Islam?

Hadith is the second most important source of Islamic teaching, after the Holy Qur’an.

• The Qur’an: the direct word of Allah and the first source.
• Hadith: explains how to understand and practise the Qur’an through the example of Prophet Muhammad.

What are the components of Hadith?

A complete Hadith has two parts: the matn and the isnad.

• Matn (text): the actual words of the Prophet, or the description of his action.
• Isnad (chain of narrators): the list of people who passed the Hadith on, from the companion who heard or saw the Prophet to the scholar who recorded it.

Example

• Sentence: “Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah said…”
• Isnad: Abu Hurairah, the companion who first heard it, is the earliest link in the chain.
• Matn: the words that follow, which are what the Prophet said.

What are the types of Hadith?

Hadith is classified in three main ways: by what was reported, by number of narrators and by authenticity.

What are the types of Hadith by what was reported?

There are four types by content: Qawli, Fi’li, Taqriri and Wasfi.

• Qawli (verbal): a saying of the Prophet, such as “Actions are judged by intentions.”
• Fi’li (action): something the Prophet did, such as how he performed prayer or Hajj.
• Taqriri (approval): something done in his presence that he approved of by his silence.
• Wasfi (description): a description of his appearance, character or habits, such as his height or smile.

What are the types of Hadith by number of narrators?

There are two types by narrators: Mutawatir and Ahad.

• Mutawatir: narrated by so many people at every stage that they could not all have agreed on a lie or made the same mistake.
• Ahad: narrated by fewer people than Mutawatir, and divided into three kinds.

Kinds of Ahad

• Mashhur: narrated by at least three people at each stage.
• Aziz: narrated by at least two people at each stage.
• Gharib: narrated by only one person at some stage.

What are the types of Hadith by authenticity?

There are four types by authenticity: Sahih, Hasan, Da’if and Mawdu.

• Sahih (authentic): meets all the conditions of authenticity.
• Hasan (good): slightly less strong than Sahih but still reliable.
• Da’if (weak): has a problem in its chain of narrators or its text.
• Mawdu (fabricated): a false report made up by someone and wrongly credited to the Prophet.

How was Hadith preserved?

Hadith was preserved by memorisation, writing, teaching and later formal collection.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) lived from 570 to 632 CE.

1. Memorisation: many companions memorised his words exactly. The Arabs had a strong tradition of memorising poetry and speech.
2. Writing: some companions wrote Hadith on leather, palm leaves, bones and stone tablets. Abdullah ibn Amr and Abu Hurairah are known to have written collections.
3. Teaching sessions: the Prophet taught regularly. After his death, his companions, especially the Caliphs, continued this.
4. Formal collection: the major books were compiled about 200 years after his death, though earlier written collections such as the Muwatta existed.
5. Checking narrators: scholars travelled long distances to meet reliable narrators and built a strict science of authentication.

What are the major collections of Hadith?

The six most respected collections are called Kutub al-Sittah (The Six Books) or Sihah Sittah (The Authentic Six).

How did scholars check that a Hadith is authentic (Ilm al-Hadith)?

Ilm al-Hadith is the science scholars developed to test the chain and the text of a Hadith.

What is chain analysis (Ilm al-Rijal)?

Chain analysis is the study of every narrator in the isnad. Scholars confirmed that each narrator:

• was known for truthfulness;
• had a good memory;
• actually met the person they claimed to hear from;
• lived at the right time and place;
• was mentally sound;
• was known for practising Islam.

• Biographical dictionaries: scholars wrote down details of thousands of narrators.

What is text analysis?

Text analysis is the checking of the matn. Scholars confirmed that the text:

• does not contradict the Qur’an;
• does not contradict well-established facts;
• does not contradict more authentic Hadith;
• does not use language unlikely for the Prophet;
• makes sense logically and historically.

What is cross-verification?

• Cross-verification: comparing different versions of the same Hadith to make sure they agree.

Why is Hadith important in Islamic life?

Hadith explains the Qur’an, supports Islamic law and shows Muslims how to live by the Prophet’s example.

• Explaining the Qur’an: the Qur’an gives general principles and Hadith gives details. The Qur’an commands prayer, and Hadith shows how to pray.
• Establishing Islamic law: many rulings come from Hadith, especially where the Qur’an is general.
• Learning about the Prophet: Hadith shows his character and daily life, so Muslims can follow him.
• Teaching ethics: many Hadith teach good character and moral values.
• Giving wisdom: Hadith offers practical advice for life and for building a healthy community.

What are some examples of famous Hadith?

Famous Hadith teach intention, kindness, character, knowledge, honesty, charity and brotherhood.

How should a Muslim approach Hadith?

A Muslim should check, understand and compare a Hadith before acting on it.

1. Verify authenticity: check the grade of a Hadith before acting on it. Many books now show the grade of each Hadith.
2. Understand context: many Hadith were spoken in particular situations. Knowing the context prevents wrong meanings.
3. Consult scholars: ask knowledgeable scholars when a Hadith seems confusing.
4. Look for other sources: a teaching found in many authentic Hadith is better established than one found in a single report.
5. Connect with the Qur’an: authentic Hadith agrees with the Qur’an. An apparent contradiction usually means a misunderstanding.

What are the common misunderstandings about Hadith?

Four common wrong ideas about Hadith are corrected below.

• “Hadith was written down too late”: formal books came later, but some companions wrote Hadith in the Prophet’s lifetime. Memory was also very strong in that culture.
• “Anyone can interpret Hadith”: understanding needs Arabic, history, context and related texts. Scholars study these for many years.
• “All Hadith in famous books are equal”: scholars grade each Hadith on its own, even within the famous books.
• “We only need the Qur’an”: the Qur’an tells Muslims to follow the Prophet. It calls him “an excellent model for those who hope in Allah and the Last Day” (Qur’an 33:21).

Evaluation

1. What does the word “Hadith” mean in Arabic, and what does it refer to in Islam?
2. Name the two components of a Hadith and explain each.
3. List the four types of Hadith based on authenticity.
4. Name any four of the six books known as Kutub al-Sittah.
5. State three reasons why Hadith is important in a Muslim’s life.

Assignment

Choose any three famous Hadith from the note. For each one, write down the Hadith, its source and the lesson it teaches. Then explain two ways in which Hadith was preserved.