What is Hadith?
Hadith (حديث — literally "speech" or "report") refers to the recorded sayings, actions, and tacit approvals of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Together with the Quran, the Sunnah (embodied in Hadith) forms the foundation of Islamic law and practice.
How Hadith are Graded
Islamic scholars developed a sophisticated science (Mustalah al-Hadith) to verify the authenticity of each narration:
- Sahih (Authentic): Continuous chain of trustworthy narrators; no contradictions
- Hasan (Good): Similar to Sahih but with slightly weaker memory in narrators
- Da'if (Weak): A flaw in the chain or text — cannot be used as evidence for rulings
- Mawdu' (Fabricated): Invented and attributed to the Prophet ﷺ — impermissible to narrate without clarifying it is fabricated
The 6 Major Hadith Collections (Kutub al-Sittah)
- Sahih al-Bukhari — compiled by Imam Muhammad al-Bukhari (d. 870 CE). Widely considered the most authentic book after the Quran.
- Sahih Muslim — compiled by Imam Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj (d. 875 CE). Second in authority to Bukhari; together they are called "the Two Sahihs" (al-Sahihayn).
- Sunan Abu Dawud — focuses on legal and juristic narrations
- Jami' al-Tirmidhi — includes gradings and commentary from Imam Tirmidhi himself
- Sunan al-Nasa'i — known for its strictness in accepting narrations
- Sunan Ibn Majah — the sixth of the Kutub al-Sittah
How to Learn Hadith
- Begin with Imam Nawawi's 40 Hadith — a collection of core narrations covering all aspects of Islam
- Then study Riyadh al-Salihin (Gardens of the Righteous) — a broader collection by Imam Nawawi
- For depth, approach a qualified scholar or Islamic studies institution
Read hadith and learn more: Open the Hadith Tool →