The History & Science of

HadithMahdavia Islamic Center of Chicago

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Table of Contents• Chapter 1: What is Hadith?

– Definition

– Importance of Hadith

– How Hadith Came To Be

– Hadith During the Life of Prophet (PBUH)

– Ashaab as‐Suffah

– How Did the Companions Preserve the Hadith?

– Memorizing the Hadith

– Were the Hadith Written Down?

– Permission to Write Hadith

– The Compilations of the Companions

– Science of Hadith

– Components of a Hadith

– A Complete Hadith

– Hadith  Mutawatir

– Levels of Authenticity

– Types of Hadiths

– Hadith Qudsi

– Hadith Collections

• Chapter 2: The Muhaddiseen

– Imam Bukhari (RHA)

– Imam Muslim (RHA)

– Imam Abu Dawud (RHA)

– Imam al‐ Tirmidhi (RHA)

– Imam Nasai (RHA)

– Imam ibn Majah (RHA)

• Chapter 3: Application of Hadith

– Adab of Hadith

– Forty Hadith

– Practical Application

• Chapter 4: Hadith About Mahdi (AS)

– Facts

– Some Hadiths

• Quiz

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Chapter 1: What is Hadith?By: Shiraz Mohammed Khan

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Hadith:• Literally means Narration. These are

narrations originating from statements, an actions, or confirmation given by the Prophet’s(PBUH)

Definition

Importance of Hadith• Hadith are a source to the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH), necessary for Muslims in practicing Islam.• The Sunnah is Divinely inspired since the Prophet (PBUH) was guided by Allah, thus making it a type of Wahi (Revelation).

• “Your Prophet does not speak from his desire, only speaks what We desire” (Qur’an 53: 3-4)• Prophet (PBUH) said, “I have been given the Qur’an and like it”

How Hadith Came to Be• Start of Recording• Sahabah• Ashab as-Suffah• Early Stages – Oral Tradition

Hadith During the Life of Prophet (PBUH)

The Prophet taught the companions formally:• The Prophetic Academy of Scholars and Dawah• Testing them on Hadith• Commanding them to convey his words

Ashaab as-Suffah

• Literally means: The Companions of the Porch

• 80 Companions studying full time

• Living in the Masjid

• Example of Abu Huraira (RZ)

How Did the Companions Preserve the Hadith?

• The Arab Civilization and Importance of Memorization

• Writing

• Real Life Application

Memorizing the Hadith• The Power of the Mind and Ability to Memorize

• Photographic Memory• Arabs Used to memorize Hundreds of Poems in Jahiliya

• Modern Day Examples• Andriy Slyusarchuk (Ukrainian professor) memorized the first 30 million places of pi, which were printed in 20 volumes of text.• Sergei Rachmaninov (composer and pianist) recalls a musical score after sight reading twice.

Were the Hadith Written Down?• Initial Prohibition…Why?

• Fear of mixing the Quran and the Hadith

• Abrogation and Command to Write Hadith• Example of Abdullah bin Amr bin Aas (RZ)

Permission to Write Hadith“Seek help from your right hand,” and pointed to something

written. (Tirmidhi)

The Prophet told Rafi bin Khadij: “You may write. There is no harm.” (Tadrib ar Rawi)

Anas narrated that the Prophet said, “Preserve knowledge by writing it. (Jami’ al Bayan)

Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al Aas was commanded to write Hadith. “Shall I write everything you say? Yes. “Whether you are content or angry?”…yes…

The Compilations of the Companions• Abdullah ibn Amr ibn Aas (RZ) – 5000+

• The Sheets of Truth (al Saheefa al Sadiqa)

• Anas ibn Malik (RZ) – 2000+ • He wrote and reviewed with the Prophet

• Jabir bin Abdullah (RZ) – 1500+• Used to write and teach his Hadith in the Prophet’s masjid

• Aisha (RA) – 2000+

Science of Hadith• Sahih v. Weak Hadith• Imam Abu Hanbal is quoted as saying: “I would rather rely on a Weak Hadith (Dha’if) rather than relying on my own judgment• Muthafiq Alaih (Majority Consensus)• Isnad (Chain of Transmitters) and Matn (Text)• Mutawatir (Hadith mentioned by several scholars)•Ahad (Hadith mentioned only once)

Components of a Hadith

Sanad or Isnad• Information about the path of the narration. • Recollection of how the narration traveled.

Matn• The text of the Hadith whose meaning is desired.• Speech which has been carried by the particular sanad.

A Complete Hadith

Hadith Mutawatir• A report in which the narrators have reached a number

that compels the mind to accept that it could not have been fabricated.

• The most authentic Hadith

Conditions:1. Large Number of Narrators 2. The Near Impossibility of Collaborating upon a Lie3. Large Number of Narrators in each generation4. Must Have been Seen or Heard (Senses)5. Mandates that the Report is True and is a Fact

Levels of Authenticity• Saheeh – Most Authentic and Sound

• Intrinsically Saheeh• Extrinsically Saheeh

• Hasan – Acceptable, Good• Intrinsically Hasan• Extrinsically Hasan

• Da’eef – Weak• Weakness due to Sanad• Weakness due to Matn

Types of HadithsFour types of Hadith can be identified:• Qudsi - Divine; a revelation from Allah (SWT); relayed with the words of the Prophet (PBUH)• Marfu` - elevated; a narration from the Prophet (PBUH)

e.g., I heard the Prophet (PBUH) saying ...• Mauquf - stopped: a narration from a companion only

e.g., we were commanded to ...• Maqtu` - severed: a narration from a successor.

Hadith Qudsi• Hadith Qudsi or Sacred Hadith is another category of Hadith• Words of Allah that are repeated by Mohammed (PBUH)• An example of a Hadith Qudsi is the Hadith of Abu Hurairah (RZ) who said that Muhammad said:“When God decreed the Creation, He pledged Himself by writing in His bookwhich is laid down with Him: My mercy prevails over My wrath.”(recorded in al-Bukhari)

Hadith CollectionsAhl-e-Sunnah wal Jama’a (Sunnis) recognize and rely on the Six Authentic Collections (Al-Sihah al-Sittah)1.Sahih al-Bukhari2.Sahih Muslim3.Sunan an-Nasa’i4.Sunan abu Dawood5.Sunan al-Tirmidhi6.Sunan Ibn Maja

Chapter 2: The MuhaddiseenBy: Shiraz Mohammed Khan

Imam Bukhari (RHA)• Lived from 194 – 256 Hijri• Extraordinary Memory: “I memorized 100,000 Saheeh Hadith, and 200,000 that are not Saheeh.”• Stories of Imam Bukahri’s memory

Imam Muslim (RHA)• Lived from 204 – 261 Hijri

• “I compiled this book from 300,000 Hadith I heard”

• Student of Imam al Bukhari

• Desire to Have a Book free from Da’eef Hadith

Imam Abu Dawud (RHA)• Lived from 252 – 275 Hijri

• Summary of Hadith related to Fiqh

• Not limited to Saheeh

Imam al- Tirmidhi (RHA)• Lived from 209 – 279 Hijri

• Student of Imam al Bukhari

• Has his own terminology

Imam Nasai (RHA)• Lived from 215 – 303 Hijri

• Criticized very few narrators

Imam ibn Majah (RHA)• Lived from 209 - 272 Hijri

• Many narrators who were criticized (compared to the other major books)

Chapter 3: Application of HadithBy: Zubair Ali Khan & Hafiz Farooq

Adab of Hadith• Surah Al-Hujurat Verse 2

“O ye who believe! Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor speak aloud to him in talk, as ye may speak aloud to one another, lest your deeds become vain and ye perceive not.”

• Imam Malik said: "The Prophet’s sacredness is in death as his sacrednesswas in life."

Adab of Hadith• It was the practice of the Imams of the past that

when any Hadiths were mentioned in their presence they would lower their voices.

• Whenever the Prophet was mentioned in their presence they were overwhelmed by respect, humbleness, stillness, and dignity.

Forty Hadith• The messenger of Allah said: "Whosoever

memorizes and preserves for my people forty Hadith relating to their religion, It will be said to him: Enter by whichever of the doors of Paradise you wish”

• In another version it is said “Allah will resurrect him as a jurist and religious scholar”

Forty Hadith• Imam Nawawi compiled a collection of 42 Hadith

in a book called “An-Nawawi's Forty Hadiths”

• These Hadith comprise the main essential and fundamental concepts of Islam.

Forty Hadith Examples• On the authority of Abu Hurairah, who said: The

messenger of Allah said :

"Each person's every joint must perform a charity every day the sun comes up : to act justly between two people is a charity; to help a man with his mount, lifting him onto it or hoistingd up his belongings onto it is a charity: a good word is a charity, every step you take to prayers is a charity and removing a harmful thing from the road is a charity."

– Related by Bukhari and Muslim

Forty Hadith Examples• On the authority of Abu Hurairah, who said : The

messenger of Allah said :

"Part of someone's being a good Muslim is his leaving alone that which does not concern him."

– Hadith narrated by Termithi and others

Practical Application• From Quran we get the commandment to establish

salah.• The details regarding prayer were learned through

Hadith.– Times of prayers– Method of prayer

Practical Application• Situation:

A fly falls in your drink what should you do?

Practical Application• Narrated Abu Huraira (RZ):

The Prophet said "If a house fly falls in the drink of anyone of you, he should dip it (in the drink), for one of its wings has a disease and the other has the cure for the disease." (Sahih Al-Bukhari: Volume 4, Book 54, Number 537)

• Experiment conducted in King Abdul Aziz University in Riyadh

Chapter 4: Hadith About Mahdi (AS)By: Mansoor Syed

Facts• Al-Tirmidhi, Abu-Dawud, Al-Bazzar, ibn-e-Majah, Al-

Hakim, & Al-Tabarani are among the important compilations of traditions in which there are traditions numbering over 300 Hadiths about Mahdi (AS)

• Examples:– Importance of the Mahdi (AS) coming– Family (Ahl-e-Baith)– Appearance– Conclusion of Religion

Some Hadiths• Hazrath Ali (RZ) narrates that Rasulullah (PBUH) said:

“Even if only a day remains for Qiyamah to come, yet Allah will surely send a man from my family (Ahl‐e‐Bait) who will fill this world with such justice and fairness, just as it initially was filled with oppression.”

‐ (Abu Dawood)

Some Hadiths• Hazrath Ali b. Abi Talib (RZ) has related a tradition from the Prophet (PBUH) who informed him:

“The Promised Mahdi will be among my family (Ahl‐e‐Baith). God will make the provisions for his emergence within a single night”

‐ (Ibn Majah, Sahih, Vol. 2, P. 519)

Some Hadiths• Hazrath Abu Sa'id al‐Khudari (RZ) narrated that the Prophet 

(PBUH) said:

“Our Mahdi will have a broad forehead and a pointed (prominent) nose. He will fill the earth with justice as it is filled with injustice and tyranny. He will rule for seven years”

‐ (Abu Dawud, Sahih, Vol. 2, p. 208; Fusul al‐muhimma, p. 275)

Some Hadiths• Hazrath Ali b. Abi Talib (RZ) said, I asked the Prophet (PBUH):

“Is Mahdi going to be among our own family or from some other?" He replied: "He will be among us. God will conclude His religion through him, just as He began it with us…..”

‐ (Bihar al‐anwar, Vol. 51, P. 84; Ithbat al‐hudat, Vol. 7, P. 191; Majma` al‐zawa'id by `Ali b. Abi Bakr Haythami (Cairo edition), Vol. 7, P. 317)

Some Hadiths• The below tradition has been quoted from various sources 

including:– In Musnad of Imam Ahmad from Ibn Abbas (RZ)

– By Abu Nu‐aym Isphahani from Ibn Abbas (RZ)

– In Kanzul Ummal from Ali (RZ)

– In Mishkat and its commentaries Mirqat and Lumu'at from Imam Jafar and Razeem

– By Hakim from Abdullah Ibn Umar (RZ)

– In Tafseer‐e‐Madarik with some variance in words

"How can my Ummah perish when I am at its beginning; Jesus, son of Marry, at its end; and the Mehdi from my progeny will be in the middle of it? "

Some Hadiths• Example of Mis‐Interpretation:

• Hazrath Umme Salmah (RA) narrates that Rasulullah (PBUH) said: 

“After the death of a Ruler there will be some dispute between the people. At that time a citizen of Madina will flee (from Madina) and go to Makkah. While in Makkah, certain people will approach him between Hajrul Aswad and Maqam‐e‐Ibrahim, and forcefully pledge their allegiance to him.”

“Thereafter a huge army will proceed from Syria to attack him but when they will be at Baida, which is between Makkah and Madina, they will be swallowed into the ground.”

‐ (Abu Dawood)

• The Mis‐Interpretation here is that people refer to this person as Mahdi (AS), when it was actually Hazrath Abdullah bin Zubair (RZ) during the period of Hazrath Imam Hussain (RZ).

QuizBy: Mansoor Syed

• What is the definition of Hadith?

• ‐ Narration

• What is Hadith a source to?

• ‐ Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH)

• Who are the Ashaab as‐Suffaj

• ‐ 80 Companions studying full time

• What was the initial prohibition in writing down the Hadith?

• ‐ Fear of mixing the Quran and the Hadith

• What is the Chain of Transmitters of a Hadith?

• ‐ Sanad or Isnad

• What is the text of a Hadith?

• ‐Matn

• What is Hadith Mutawatir?

• ‐ The most authentic Hadith

• Name the 3 levels of authenticity?

• ‐ Saheeh, Hasan, and Da'eef

• Out of the 3 levels of Hadith, which level is the most authentic?

• ‐ Saheeh

• What is Hadith Qudsi?

• ‐Words of Allah that are repeated by Mohammed (PBUH) (Divine)

• What are the "Forty Hadith"?

• ‐ These Hadiths comprise the main essential and fundamental concepts of Islam

• How many Hadiths are there regarding Mahdi (AS)

• ‐ Over 300

1. The Arbitration was between what 2 people?– Hazrath Ali (RZ) and Hazrath Mu’awiya (RZ)

2. Who was the main Battle of Karbala between?– Hazrath Imam Hussain (RZ) and the forces of Yazid

3. Where did Imam Hussain (RZ) receive letters from?– Kufa

4. Who did Imam Hussain (RZ) appoint as the first person to go to Kufa to analyze the situation?

– Muslim bin Aqeel (RZ)5. Who was the strict Governor of Kufa assigned by Yazid?

– Ibn Ziyad6. Who assassinated Hazrath Imam Hussain (RZ)?

– Shimir Dhul Jaushan7. Where does the progeny of the Prophet (PBUH) or the Ahl‐e‐Baith come from after 

the Shahadath of Imam Hussain (RZ)?– Hazrath Zain‐ul‐Abedeen (RA)

8. How was the Battle of Karbala a victory for Islam?– The originality of Islam and the message of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) were protected

50

Quiz

9. The Arbitration was between what 2 people?– Hazrath Ali (RZ) and Hazrath Mu’awiya (RZ)

10. Who was the main Battle of Karbala between?– Hazrath Imam Hussain (RZ) and the forces of Yazid

11. Where did Imam Hussain (RZ) receive letters from?– Kufa

12. Who did Imam Hussain (RZ) appoint as the first person to go to Kufa to analyze the situation?

– Muslim bin Aqeel (RZ)13. Who was the strict Governor of Kufa assigned by Yazid?

– Ibn Ziyad14. Who assassinated Hazrath Imam Hussain (RZ)?

– Shimir Dhul Jaushan15. Where does the progeny of the Prophet (PBUH) or the Ahl‐e‐Baith come from after 

the Shahadath of Imam Hussain (RZ)?– Hazrath Zain‐ul‐Abedeen (RA)

16. How was the Battle of Karbala a victory for Islam?– The originality of Islam and the message of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) were protected

51

Quiz

The EndThank You!