What is Hadith? The 6 Major Collections & Science of Hadith Explained

What is Hadith?

Hadith (حديث) literally means "speech", "report", or "narration". In Islamic terminology, it refers to the recorded sayings, actions, silent approvals, and characteristics of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. While the Quran is the direct word of Allah, the Hadith is the practical explanation and living example of how to implement the Quran in daily life.

Allah commands in the Quran: "And whatever the Messenger gives you, take it; and whatever he forbids you, refrain from it." (Quran 59:7). The Prophet ﷺ himself said: "I have been given the Quran and something like it along with it." (Abu Dawud). This "something like it" refers to the Sunnah, preserved in Hadith literature.

Without Hadith, we would not know the exact method of performing Salah, how much Zakat to give, the details of Hajj, or the etiquettes of daily life. Hadith is therefore the second primary source of Islam after the Quran.

The Science of Hadith Authentication

Early Muslim scholars developed one of the most rigorous verification systems in human history to protect the Prophetic teachings from fabrication. Each hadith has two parts:

• Isnad (Chain of Transmission) — the list of narrators from the Prophet ﷺ to the compiler.
• Matn (Text) — the actual wording of the narration.

Scholars examined every narrator’s piety, memory, precision, and whether they actually met the previous narrator. They classified hadiths into:

• Sahih (Authentic) — Highest level, used for beliefs and rulings.
• Hasan (Good) — Reliable enough for most rulings.
• Da'if (Weak) — Has some flaw; used cautiously for virtues only.
• Mawdu' (Fabricated) — Completely false; must be rejected.

The 6 Major Hadith Collections (Kutub al-Sittah)

These six books are the most authoritative collections in Sunni Islam:

1. Sahih al-Bukhari

Compiled by Imam Muhammad ibn Ismail al-Bukhari (d. 256 AH). Considered the most authentic book after the Quran. He selected only ~7,275 hadiths after examining over 600,000 narrations.

2. Sahih Muslim

Compiled by Imam Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj (d. 261 AH). Extremely rigorous and highly respected. Together with Bukhari, they form al-Sahihayn — the Two Most Authentic Books.

3. Sunan Abi Dawud

Compiled by Imam Abu Dawud (d. 275 AH). Focuses on legal rulings (fiqh) and includes both strong and some weaker narrations with clear grading.

4. Jami' at-Tirmidhi

Compiled by Imam al-Tirmidhi (d. 279 AH). Includes grading for each hadith (Sahih, Hasan, Da'if) and is very user-friendly.

5. Sunan an-Nasa'i

Compiled by Imam an-Nasa'i (d. 303 AH). Known for its strictness and focus on authentic narrations.

6. Sunan Ibn Majah

Compiled by Imam Ibn Majah (d. 273 AH). Completes the six major collections with many important legal and moral narrations.

How to Study Hadith Effectively

1. Start with **Nawawi’s 40 Hadith** — short, comprehensive, and foundational.
2. Move to **Riyad as-Salihin** by Imam Nawawi for daily virtues and manners.
3. Read full collections with commentary (sharh) for deeper understanding.
4. Use our interactive tool for easy searching and audio.

Explore Hadith Collections →

Our Recommended Hadith Tools

May Allah grant us love for the Sunnah and the ability to follow the Prophet ﷺ perfectly. Ameen.