AL-Hadith Collection
Al-Hadith Collection is the record of the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (swas). The sayings and conduct of Prophet Muhammad (swas) constitute the Sunnah.
The Hadith now serves as an additional source of Islamic religious law alongside the Qur’an. After the Qur’an, the Hadith is the second pillar upon which every Muslim bases his beliefs. Mat’n and Isnad make up hadith. The Hadith’s text is referred to as Mat’n, and its transmission line is referred to as Isnad.
According to the level of dependability and authenticity, experts of the Hadith literature separated the Traditions into different categories; each category had to satisfy a set of requirements.
The categories are as follows:
1. Sahih: The genuine Traditions, the authentic ones.
2. Moothaq: Almost like the Sahih but the narration is not as strong as those of the Sahih.
3. Hassan: The fair Traditions although inferior in matter of authenticity.
4. Dha’eef: The weak Traditions which are not so reliable.
In Shari’ah (Islamic Constitution) deeds and actions are divided into five classes:
1. Fardh or Wajib: An obligatory duty the omission of which is Islamically punishable.
2. Mustahab: An action which is rewarded, but whose omission is not punishable.
3. Mubaah: An action which is permitted but legally is indifferent.
4. Makrooh: An action which is disapproved by the Shari’ah but is not under any penalty.
5. Haram: An action which is forbidden, and Islamically punishable.
Six official collections of Hadith were produced as a result of the Hadith’s collection and collection in the later half of the third century of Hijrah (Al-Sihaah Al-Sittah).
- Sahih of Al-Bukhari, d.256 A.H: 7275 (2712 Non-duplicated) out of 600,000.
- Sahih of Muslim, d.261 A.H: 9200 (4,000 Non-duplicated) out of 300,000.
- Sunan of Abu Dawood, d.276 A.H. 4,800 of 500,000.
- Sunan of Ibn Maajeh: d.273 A.H.
- Jami’ of Tirmidhi, d.279 A.H.
- Sunan of al-Nisaa’i, d.303 A.H2.
