What Is the Difference Between Hadith, Khabar, and Athar?
The term hadith refers to any narration about the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), including his sayings, actions, approvals, or attributes. In contrast, khabar encompasses all information related to the Prophet and others, making it broader and more inclusive than hadith. Meanwhile, athar pertains specifically to narrations attributed to the companions or followers of the Prophet. It can also refer to sayings attributed to the Prophet himself, but it is usually framed with the phrase, “and in athar from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).”
What Is Meant by Insertion in Hadith?
The concept of insertion in hadith involves a narrator introducing elements that are not part of the original narration without disclosing this. This may occur to clarify a term within the narration or to derive a ruling. There are two types of insertion in hadith: insertion in the chain of narration (isnad) and insertion in the text itself (matn).
What Are the Primary Collections of Hadith?
There are six principal collections of hadith, known as the Umm al-Kutub, which include:
- Sahih al-Bukhari
- Sahih Muslim
- Sunan al-Nasa’i
- Sunan Abu Dawood
- Sunan al-Tirmidhi
- Sunan Ibn Majah
What Is Meant by Comprehensive Works in the Terminology of Hadith Scholars?
The term comprehensive works refers to books of hadith that are organized by topics, covering all aspects and themes of religion. These typically include eight main categories: beliefs (aqidah), jurisprudence (ahkam), biographies (sirah), ethics (adab), interpretation (tafsir), tribulations (fitan), signs of the Hour (ashrat al-sa’a), and virtues (manaqib).
What Are the Methods of Receiving Hadith?
There are eight recognized methods of receiving hadith: hearing directly from the teacher, reading aloud to the teacher, obtaining permission (ijazah), handover (munaawalah), writing, notification (i’lam), bequeathing (wasiyyah), and finding (wijadah).
What Are the Most Notable Works in the Science of Hadith Terminology?
Several notable works exist in the field of hadith, with the most renowned being:
- Al-Muhaddith al-Fasil bin al-Rawi wa al-Wa’i by Al-Qadi Abu Muhammad al-Ramahrizi
- Ma’rifah ‘Ulum al-Hadith by Al-Hakim al-Nisaburi
- Mukhtasar ‘ala Ma’rifah ‘Ulum al-Hadith by Abu Nu’aym al-Isbahani
- Al-Kifayah fi ‘Ilm al-Riwayah by Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi
- Ulum al-Hadith, commonly known as the introduction by Ibn al-Salah
How Is the Justice of a Hadith Narrator Established?
The justice (adala) of a hadith narrator can be established in one of two ways: through explicit affirmation by scholars of criticism (muhaddithin) or by widespread recognition of the narrator’s integrity among knowledgeable circles. If a narrator is well-regarded for their justice, there is no need for a critic to formally attest to it.
What Are the Categories of Authentic Hadith?
Authentic hadith is divided into two categories:
- Authentic in Itself: This refers to hadith whose chain of transmission is uninterrupted, originating from a just and reliable person, with no anomalies or weaknesses.
- Authentic by Reference: This includes hadith that may fall short in some conditions compared to those considered authentic in themselves, but is nonetheless upheld by multiple transmission routes.
Can You Provide Examples of Sacred Hadith?
Many sacred hadiths are found in the Sunnah of the Prophet, including:
- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) narrated from his Lord (Glory be to Him) as saying: “I am as My servant thinks of Me, and I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me to himself, I remember him to Myself; if he remembers Me in a gathering, I remember him in a gathering better than that. If he comes to Me an arm’s length, I approach him a fathom; if he comes to Me a fathom, I come to him as a stride; and if he walks to Me, I rush to him.”
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) related from your Lord (Exalted be He): “Every action has an expiation, and fasting is for Me and I reward for it. The breath of a fasting person is sweeter to Allah than the scent of musk.”
What Is Hadith Agreed Upon?
Hadith agreed upon refers to those narrated by both Al-Bukhari and Muslim, included in their respective collections, regardless of whether they agree in wording or differ, with the essence being their shared meaning.
Can You Provide Examples of Action Based Sunnah?
Numerous action-based Sunnahs have been reported from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), including practices such as: the call to prayer (adhan), the night prayers (tahajjud), the obligatory prayers (salah), the prayers for the two Eid festivals, the solar eclipse prayer (kuusuf), Umrah, farewell Tawaf (tawaf al-wada), and sleeping on one’s right side, among others.