Hadith II: the Six Sound Collections of Hadith – SS1 Islamic Studies Lesson Note (First Term)

The Six Sound Collections (Al-Sihah al-Sittah) are the six hadith books that Muslim scholars regard as the most reliable records of the sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Behavioural objectives

1. Name the six sound collections of hadith and their authors.
2. State the full title and one special feature of each collection.
3. Define Hadith Qudsi and give examples.
4. Compare the Quran, Hadith Qudsi and regular hadith.
5. Explain how the three work together in guiding Muslims.

What are the Six Sound Collections of hadith?

There are six sound collections: Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abu Dawud, Jami al-Tirmidhi, Sunan al-Nasa’i and Sunan Ibn Majah.

• Origin: after the Prophet’s death, scholars collected and checked his sayings and actions.
• Time of compilation: the six books were compiled mainly in the third century after the Hijra (the 9th century CE).
• Al-Sahihayn: Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim are together called “the Two Sahihs” and rank highest.
• Use today: Muslims all over the world still study them.

What are the six collections at a glance?

What is Sahih al-Bukhari?

Sahih al-Bukhari is the collection of Imam Muhammad ibn Ismail al-Bukhari, ranked by scholars as the most authentic book after the Quran.

Who was the author?

• Full name: Muhammad ibn Ismail al-Bukhari.
• Born: 810 CE in Bukhara (now in Uzbekistan).
• Died: 870 CE.
• Life’s work: he travelled widely, visited many cities and met many scholars to collect hadith.
• Time spent: he is reported to have spent 16 years compiling the book.

What is the book like?

• Full title: Al-Jami al-Sahih (The Authentic Collection).
• Number of hadith: 7,563 including repeated ones, and about 2,602 without repetition.
• Selection: he is reported to have examined about 600,000 hadith and chosen only those that met his strict standards.
• Practice: he is reported to have performed ghusl (ritual bath) and prayed two rakats before recording each hadith.
• Arrangement: organised by topic, including fiqh (Islamic law) topics.
• Unique feature: considered the most authentic book after the Quran.

What is Sahih Muslim?

Sahih Muslim is the collection of Imam Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj, a student of Imam Bukhari, and it ranks second in authenticity.

Who was the author?

• Full name: Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj.
• Born: about 817 CE in Nishapur (now in Iran).
• Died: 875 CE.
• Teacher and student: he was a student of Imam Bukhari.

What is the book like?

• Full title: Al-Musnad al-Sahih (The Authentic Collection).
• Number of hadith: about 7,500 with repetitions, and about 4,000 without repetition.
• Selection: he is reported to have examined about 300,000 hadith.
• Arrangement: very well organised, with less repetition than Sahih al-Bukhari.
• Unique feature: gathers the hadith on one topic in one place, which makes it easy to use.
• Scholarly opinion: many scholars rank Bukhari first for authenticity and praise Muslim for its arrangement.

What is Sunan Abu Dawud?

Sunan Abu Dawud is the collection of Abu Dawud Sulaiman ibn al-Ash’ath, centred on hadith used for legal rulings.

Who was the author?

• Full name: Abu Dawud Sulaiman ibn al-Ash’ath.
• Born: 817 CE in Sijistan (between Iran and Afghanistan).
• Died: 889 CE.
• Expertise: an expert in hadith related to fiqh (Islamic law).

What is the book like?

• Full title: Kitab al-Sunan (Book of Traditions).
• Number of hadith: about 5,274.
• Focus: hadith related to legal rulings.
• Grades: includes sahih (authentic), hasan (good) and some weak hadith that he pointed out.
• Unique feature: he often explained the weakness of a hadith and its legal effect.
• Practical use: very useful for understanding Islamic law and practices.

What is Jami al-Tirmidhi?

Jami al-Tirmidhi is the collection of Imam al-Tirmidhi, known for stating the grade of each hadith.

Who was the author?

• Full name: Abu Isa Muhammad ibn Isa al-Tirmidhi.
• Born: 824 CE in Termez (now in Uzbekistan).
• Died: 892 CE.
• Notable fact: he is reported to have become blind in his later years.

What is the book like?

• Full title: Al-Jami al-Kabir (The Large Collection).
• Number of hadith: about 3,956.
• Special feature: mentions the different opinions of legal scholars on issues.
• Grading: clearly states whether a hadith is sahih (authentic), hasan (good) or da’if (weak).
• Innovation: made the term “hasan” (good) widely known as a grade of hadith.
• Additional benefit: explains difficult terms and gives information about narrators.

What is Sunan al-Nasa’i?

Sunan al-Nasa’i is the collection of Imam al-Nasa’i, known for very strict standards in choosing narrators.

Who was the author?

• Full name: Ahmad ibn Shu’ayb al-Nasa’i.
• Born: about 829 CE in Nasa, Khorasan (now in Turkmenistan).
• Died: 915 CE.
• Notable fact: known for his strict standards and his devotion to fasting.

What is the book like?

• Full title: Al-Sunan al-Sughra (The Minor Collection), also called Al-Mujtaba.
• Number of hadith: about 5,761.
• Grading level: very strict, close to the level of Bukhari and Muslim.
• Special focus: points out small differences in the wording and chains of narration.
• Organisation: well arranged by topics of fiqh (Islamic law).
• Scholarly opinion: praised for its precision and attention to detail.

What is Sunan Ibn Majah?

Sunan Ibn Majah is the collection of Imam Ibn Majah, the last of the six books to be accepted as a major collection.

Who was the author?

• Full name: Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Yazid Ibn Majah al-Qazwini.
• Born: 824 CE in Qazwin (now in Iran).
• Died: 887 CE.
• Travel: travelled widely to Iraq, Syria, Egypt and Arabia to collect hadith.

What is the book like?

• Full title: Kitab al-Sunan (Book of Traditions).
• Number of hadith: about 4,341.
• Unique feature: contains many hadith not found in the other five collections.
• Grades: contains sahih (authentic), hasan (good) and da’if (weak) hadith, and a few that scholars judge to be fabricated.
• Status: last to be accepted among the six major collections.
• Scholarly note: some scholars suggested Imam Malik’s Muwatta in its place, but the list of six became standard.

Why are the six collections important?

• Trusted records: they are the most trusted hadith books.
• Legal basis: they form a foundation of Islamic legal rulings.
• Guidance: they help Muslims practise Islam correctly.
• Method: their authors checked the narrators and chains of each hadith.
• Transmission: they have been studied, taught and passed on since they were compiled.
• Access: they are available in many languages today.
• Influence: many later books are based on them.

What is Hadith Qudsi?

Hadith Qudsi is a sacred hadith in which the Prophet reports what Allah said, with the meaning from Allah and the wording from the Prophet, according to most scholars.

What does Hadith Qudsi mean?

• Meaning of the word: “Qudsi” comes from “Quds”, meaning holy or sacred.
• Source of content: the meaning is from Allah and the wording is from the Prophet.
• Usual opening: “The Prophet said: Allah says…” or “Allah Almighty says, as reported by His Messenger…”

What are examples of Hadith Qudsi?

1. On remembering Allah: “Allah says: ‘I am as My servant thinks of Me, and I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I remember him in Myself. If he remembers Me in a gathering, I remember him in a better gathering. If he comes closer to Me by a hand’s span, I come closer to him by an arm’s length. If he comes to Me walking, I come to him running.'” (Bukhari)
2. On good deeds: “Allah says: ‘When My servant intends to do a good deed, I record it for him as one good deed. If he does it, I record it as ten good deeds up to seven hundred times or more. If he intends to do a bad deed but does not do it, I record it as one good deed. If he does it, I record it as only one bad deed.'” (Muslim)
3. On fasting: “Allah says: ‘All actions of the son of Adam are for him except fasting, which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it. Fasting is a shield…'” (Bukhari)

How many Hadith Qudsi are there?

• Number: scholars differ on the exact number.
• Collections: small collections of about 40 and 101 hadith qudsi are commonly used.
• Topics: Allah’s mercy, forgiveness, good deeds and warnings against sins.

How authentic are Hadith Qudsi?

• Checking: they are examined with the same methods as regular hadith.
• Grades: they can be sahih (authentic), hasan (good) or da’if (weak).
• Location: many authentic ones are found in the six major collections.

How are the Quran, Hadith Qudsi and regular hadith related?

The Quran, Hadith Qudsi and regular hadith are three sources of Islamic guidance that differ in wording, status and use.

• Quran: the word of Allah, in both meaning and wording, revealed to the Prophet.
• Hadith Qudsi: the Prophet’s report of Allah’s message, with the meaning from Allah and the wording from the Prophet.
• Regular hadith: the sayings, actions and approvals of the Prophet.

What are the differences between them?

Why is Hadith Qudsi important?

• Personal tone: it presents Allah’s words in a personal and direct way.
• Attributes: it explains Allah’s attributes and His relationship with people.
• Mercy: it helps Muslims understand Allah’s mercy and forgiveness.
• Extra guidance: it adds guidance not given in detail in the Quran.
• Effect on the heart: its personal style often moves readers strongly.
• Support: it complements and expands the Quran’s teachings.

How is Hadith Qudsi used in practice?

1. Spiritual development

• Focus: building a closer relationship with Allah.
• Character: it encourages good character, forgiveness and compassion.
• Example: “Allah says: ‘O son of Adam, as long as you call upon Me and hope in Me, I will forgive you whatever comes from you, and I do not mind…'” (Tirmidhi)

2. Understanding divine attributes

• Focus: learning Allah’s names and attributes.
• Relationship: it shows how Allah deals with His creation.
• Example: “Allah says: ‘I am the Most Self-Sufficient and have no need of partners…'” (Muslim)

3. Motivation for good deeds

• Rewards: it often mentions specific rewards for good deeds.
• Encouragement: it motivates Muslims to do good and avoid evil.
• Example: “Allah says: ‘I have prepared for My righteous servants what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived…'” (Bukhari)

How do the three sources work together?

• Quran: gives the foundation of faith and practice.
• Hadith Qudsi: adds personal divine messages and explanations.
• Regular hadith: shows how to apply the teachings in practice.

Example: prayer

1. The Quran commands prayer.
2. Regular hadith shows how to pray.
3. Hadith Qudsi explains the spiritual reward and the link with Allah in prayer, as in “I have divided the prayer between Myself and My servant…” (Muslim).

Evaluation

1. Name the six sound collections of hadith.
2. Who compiled Sahih Muslim, and how was he linked to Imam Bukhari?
3. What is Hadith Qudsi? Give one example.
4. State two differences between the Quran and Hadith Qudsi.
5. Which of the six collections was the last to be accepted, and what is its unique feature?

Assignment

Write a short study card on two of the six collections and on how the three sources guide Muslims.

1. For each collection, give the author’s full name, the year he died, the full title and one unique feature.
2. Write out one example of Hadith Qudsi from this note and state the collection it comes from.
3. Using prayer as your example, explain how the Quran, Hadith Qudsi and regular hadith work together.