About the Hadith

About the Hadith Hadith, meaning a “statement” or “report”, is used as an Islamic term for the records kept of the sayings and doings of the Prophet Muhammad. Sunnah means the actions the Prophet himself performed, or actions he asked his followers to perform. The Hadith is a record of the Sunnah. H a d i t h , m e a n i n g a “statement” or “report”, is used as an Islamic term for the records kept of the sayings and doings of the Prophet Muhammad. Sunnah means the actions the Prophet himself performed, or actions he a s k e d his followers to perform. The Hadith is a record of the Sunnah. Hadith provides the second fundamental source of Islam, giving us a full account of the life of the Prophet, and serving as a commentary on the Quran. The Quran principally deals with basics. It is the Hadith which gives the details and necessary explanations of Quranic injunctions. For instance, the Quran says: “Establish the service of worship.” But it does not specify how the worship has to be performed. Not even the timings and units of prayers (rak‘ahs) are clearly mentioned. We n e e d t h e traditions set forth in the Hadith to have full information on this. Even after knowing the details, it might still not have been possible to follow the divine injunctions contained in the Quran. For not everything can be properly understood by words alone. Therefore, the Prophet demonstrated to the faithful how prayer was to be performed. He said to the believers: “Look at me, see how I worship, and follow me.” The Quran repeatedly reminds us of the importance of Hadith, enjoining us to strictly follow the Prophet: “...Obey God and obey the messenger...” (Al-Nisa, 4:59). It is as if the Quran is the text and the Hadith the commentary, the Quran being the theor y and the Hadith t h e p r a c t i ce . The Quran and H a d i t h a r e complementary to one another and are thus inseparable. Both are equally essential for the establishment of religion. About Sunnah The contemporaries of the Prophet are known as the Companions, or sahabah. Because the Companions believed in the message of the Prophet, all his actions served as a precedent for them and every word falling from his lips became a commandment to them; and they were anxious to follow each one as faithfully a s t h e y co u l d . During the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad, many of his Companions learnt by heart whatever he said, and keenly observed whatever he did, all of which they shared with each other. They naturally thirsted after the knowledge of what he said or did, so that many, like Abu Hurayrah, Anas ibn Malik and Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud, kept constant company with him in order to observe and hear his every word and deed. Ai‘sha, the Prophet’s wife, was the first among women to tell of the Prophet’s sayings and doings. She reported more than two thousand hadith, while Abu Hurayrah related more than five thousand hadith. Later, the sayings were compiled by various collectors of hadith. In this regard, Bukhari and Muslim are the first to have applied the most rigorous measures to ascertain the reliability He who lacks kindness of heart lacks all good. The Prophet Muhammad Narrate the virtues of the dead and refrain from revealing their sins. The Prophet Muhammad Live in this world as though you are a stranger or a traveller. The Prophet Muhammad God has more compassion for His servants than a woman does for her child. The Prophet Muhammad God loves those believers who labour to earn a living by lawful means. The Prophet Muhammad The human heart, like iron, is liable to rust. The remembrance of death and recitation of the Quran protects the heart from getting tarnished. The Prophet Muhammad