Hadith – JSS3 Islamic Studies Lesson Note (Third Term)

A Hadith is a recorded saying, action or silent approval of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

• Meaning of the word: “Hadith” means “news”, “report” or “story” in Arabic.
• Purpose: Hadith help Muslims follow Islam properly.
• Link to the Quran: the Quran contains the words of Allah, and Hadith show how the Prophet explained and lived by them.

Behavioural objectives

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

1. Define Hadith and name its two parts, matn and isnad.
2. State the three types of Hadith based on what they record.
3. Give reasons why Hadith are important in Islam.
4. Describe how Hadith were collected and checked.
5. Name the six major collections of Hadith and the four classes of Hadith by authenticity.

What are the parts of a Hadith?

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

1. Matn: the actual text, meaning what Prophet Muhammad said or did.
2. Isnad: the chain of people who passed the Hadith from one person to another until it was written down.

• Narrator: a person in the chain who passes on the Hadith.
• Companion: a person who met the Prophet, believed in him and died as a Muslim.
• Example of an isnad: “Abdullah ibn Umar heard from the Prophet that…”

What does a complete Hadith look like?

Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should say something good or remain silent.” (Reported by Bukhari and Muslim)

• Isnad: “Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah said…” is the start of the chain of narrators.
• Matn: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should say something good or remain silent” is the text.
• Source: the words in brackets name the collections that reported it.

What is the difference between the Quran and Hadith?

The Quran is the word of Allah revealed to Prophet Muhammad. Hadith record the Prophet’s own sayings, actions and approvals.

What are the types of Hadith?

There are three types of Hadith based on what they record: Qawli, Fiʻli and Taqriri.

Qawli Hadith (Sayings)

• Meaning: records the words and statements of Prophet Muhammad.
• Example: his teaching on what is right and wrong.

Fiʻli Hadith (Actions)

• Meaning: describes what Prophet Muhammad did.
• Example: how he performed prayer or how he treated people.

Taqriri Hadith (Approvals)

• Meaning: records when the Prophet saw someone do something and approved by staying silent or not objecting.
• Example: a companion does an act in his presence and he does not stop it.

Why are Hadith important in Islam?

Hadith are important because they explain the Quran and guide Muslims in daily life.

• They explain the Quran: many verses are general, and Hadith show how to apply them. The Quran tells Muslims to pray, and Hadith show exactly how.
• They provide additional rules: Hadith give teachings not set out in detail in the Quran, such as rules on business dealings or family matters.
• They show the Prophet’s character: Hadith show how he lived, treated people and faced difficulties, so Muslims can follow his example.
• They preserve Islamic history: Hadith record events from the early days of Islam.

How were Hadith collected and preserved?

Hadith were preserved by memory, writing and teaching, then collected and checked by scholars.

1. Memorisation: many companions memorised the Prophet’s words exactly, as the Arabs had a strong tradition of memorisation.
2. Early writing: some companions wrote down what they heard, even though paper was scarce.
3. Teaching: the companions taught the next generation, who then taught others.
4. Formal collection: about 200 years after the Prophet, scholars began to collect and check Hadith systematically.
5. Travel: scholars journeyed long distances to meet people who had heard Hadith from reliable sources.
6. Verification: scholars tested each Hadith using the checks below.

How did scholars check a Hadith?

• Unbroken chain: every narrator in the isnad must be linked to the next.
• Honest narrators: each narrator must be known to be honest.
• Good memory: each narrator must be known to remember accurately.
• No contradiction: the text must not contradict the Quran or other well-known facts.

What are the major collections of Hadith?

There are six major collections of Hadith, called the “Kutub al-Sittah” (The Six Books).

• Sahihayn: Bukhari and Muslim are together called the “two Sahihs”.
• Trust: the six books are the most trusted Hadith collections among Sunni Muslims.

How are Hadith classified by authenticity?

Scholars classify Hadith into four classes by reliability: Sahih, Hasan, Da’if and Mawdu’.

What are some examples of important Hadith?

These Hadith teach important Islamic principles.

• On intentions: “Actions are judged by intentions, and each person will be rewarded according to their intentions.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
• On kindness: “Allah is kind and loves kindness in all matters.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
• On good character: “The best among you are those who have the best character.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
• On learning: “Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim.” (Ibn Majah)
• On cleanliness: “Cleanliness is half of faith.” (Muslim)

How do Muslims use Hadith today?

Muslims use Hadith for worship, law, personal conduct and education.

• Religious practice: Hadith explain how to pray, fast, give charity and perform other acts of worship correctly.
• Legal matters: scholars use Hadith to give rulings on new questions not directly addressed in the Quran.
• Personal conduct: Muslims look to Hadith for guidance on behaviour, treating others and moral decisions.
• Education: Hadith are taught in Islamic schools and universities as a major part of Islamic studies.

What challenges are there in understanding Hadith?

The main challenges are context, language, interpretation and authenticity.

• Context: some Hadith were meant for specific situations and may not apply generally.
• Language: translating from Arabic can lose subtle meanings.
• Interpretation: scholars sometimes disagree about what certain Hadith mean.
• Authenticity: Muslims must follow authentic Hadith and avoid fake ones.

How can we benefit from Hadith?

We benefit from Hadith by learning them from reliable sources and applying them in daily life.

1. Learn from reliable sources: use trusted books and scholars.
2. Understand the context: learn when and why the Prophet said something.
3. Apply the lessons: put the teachings into practice daily.
4. Keep a balance: use the Quran and Hadith together for a full understanding of Islam.
5. Reflect: think about the wisdom in Hadith and how it can improve your character.

Evaluation

1. What does the word “Hadith” mean?
2. Name the two parts of a Hadith and explain each.
3. List the three types of Hadith based on what they record.
4. State two ways scholars checked whether a Hadith was reliable.
5. Name the four classes of Hadith by authenticity.

Assignment

Draw a table with two columns. In the first column, name the six books of Hadith known as the “Kutub al-Sittah”. In the second column, write the scholar who collected each book. Then write out two Hadith from this lesson and name the collection that reported each one.