The fundamental source of doctrinal teachings in Islam is based on the infallible revelation (wahy) of Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala, revealed to the last Messenger and Seal of the Prophets, Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah ibn Abd alMuttalib, salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam (S), as codified in Islam’s sacred text, al-Qur’an al Karim. For simplicity, the Qur’an can be thought of as the Law and the Constitution, which sets out the fundamental blueprint and the theological foundation of the faith (Islam) and the Muslim way of life (Din).
The second source of Islamic tenets and ordinances is based on the Prophetic Tradition of Allah’s Messenger (S). The Prophetic Tradition (hadith and Sunnah) embodies the entire pattern of life of Messenger Muhammad (S) and includes every detail concerning his utterances, his actions, his conduct and his attitudes whether explicit or implicit as recorded by the early hadith scholars and researchers (Muhaddithin).
The hadith and Sunnah can be thought of as interpretation, explanation and demonstration of the Qur’anic injunctions by Allah’s Messenger (S)
DEFINITION OF THE TERM HADITH
The word hadith (plural ahadith) has several meanings, such as, ‘news’, ‘report’ or ‘narration’, as used in various contexts in the Sacred Qur’an. It has been defined as ‘communication, story, and conversation: religious or secular, historical or recent’. In the narrow technical sense, “a hadith” refers to a particular report (verbal or written tradition) about what Allah’s Messenger (S) said or did, or his reaction or silence to something said or done by others.
In a broader sense, “The Hadith” can be described as the total body of reports (speeches, discourses, sermons, and statements), deeds (actions, practices, personal behavior) and tacit approval of Allah’s Messenger (S). This term also includes statements made by the Messenger’s Companions about him.
BROAD CATEGORIES OF THE PROPHETIC TRADITION
The literature embodying hadith and Sunnah has generally been categorized into three primary groupings by the early Traditionists (Muhaddithin), according to most hadith commentators.These are:
(1) The body of sayings (speeches, sermons, discourses and statements) of the Allah’s Messenger (S) containing prescriptions for all Muslims. In technical terms, this is referred to as al Sunnah al Qawliyyah. These utterances are considered “inspired speech” though they are not in the same class of divine revelations (wahy) as contained in the Glorious Qur’an.
(2) The body of deeds, actions, and practices which Allah’s Messenger (S) taught his Companions to do and which have been performed by the early generation Muslims ever since. In technical terms, this is referred to as al Sunnahal Fi’liyyah.
(3) The body of ahadith reporting that Allah’s Messenger (S) had approved or disapproved commended or condemned certain types of conduct. This group also includes the Messenger’s tacit approval on matters, which occurred either in his presence or elsewhere about which he had come to know. In technical terms, this is referred to as al Sunnah al Taqririyyah.
There is also another category of reports which have been collected by compilers and which have been treated as the Messenger’s Sunnah. These relate to statements made by his Companions about him, such as his physical features (sifat); human characteristics; personal ways; or events about his life, for example, his birth, marriage, or emigration to Madina.
In summary, these various categories of reports (words, practices, approval and disapproval) on the life of Allah’s Messenger (S) form what is generally defined by hadith scholars as al Sunnah al Tashri’iyyah, that is, that which either have a legal value or which provide guidance to the Muslim community.
THE COMPONENTS OF A HADITH
Each hadith is made up of two major components: the text (matn) and the chain of transmission (isnad), as explained below.
TEXT (MATN):
The text or content (matn) of a hadith refers to the message, statement, action or decision of the Messenger (S) reported in the hadith. The early Traditionists stipulated that for a hadith to be ‘trustworthy’ or ‘valid’ its text must be consistent with the meaning of the Qur’an, be in agreement with accepted facts, and congruent with the texts of other ahadith, the reliability of which have already been accepted and agreed upon. Thus, a hadith whose text did not meet these established criteria was generally deemed doubtful and hence was rejected.
TRANSMISSION (ISNAD):
The chain of narrators mentioned in a hadith report, starting from his own teacher and going back to the Companion(s), who related from or about the Messenger (S), is known as the isnad
CLASSIFICATION OF HADITH
Ahadith are generally categorized into three basic divisions each of which is also subdivided into multiple grades of sub-groups according to the quality of the text, veracity and reliability of the narrators, and continuity in the isnad. We will not present the multitude of hadith sub groupings as these can be found in any standard book on hadith.The primary divisions of Hadith are as follows:
The ‘Sound’ Hadith (Al Sahih al Hadith)
The ‘Good’ Hadith (Al Hasan al Hadith)
The ‘Weak’ Hadith (Al Da’if al Hadith)
Hadith and Culture
Someone rightly said that Faith Travels, Cultures Don’t!
If new Muslims are learning about the faith, then it is most likely that they will follow the same route either it may be shown by Qur’an or Hadith. This doesn’t make born Muslims inferior to new Muslims nor does it make learning about Islam (from born Muslims) something that is difficult or dangerous, but it is a good reminder that studying the faith takes perseverance and it is important for everyone to distinguish between religion and culture.Some people may say that this is no big deal for Muslims to be culturally-inclined, because Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) called everyone to Islam regardless of their backgrounds. And this is definitely true. But as much as he engaged in this form of dawah, he also reminded that sometimes Muslims get lost in their practices that they forget to check whether their form of worship or their lifestyle of choice is in line with Islamic principles laid out in the Quran and the Hadith.
As followers of the seal of Prophets, Muhammad, who was given the last Message to Mankind, it is important for Muslims to remember this one single verse:
{This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion} (Al-Ma’idah 5: 3)
Islam has been perfected by God and therefore there is no need to make any changes, especially with respect to religious matters. The way Muslims need to revere this particular verse, is to practice Islam the way it has been prescribed.
In matters of worship, anything that is created on the pretense of religious worship is considered an innovation, especially when there is no supporting Qur’anic injunction of Hadith to solidify the need for such form of worship.
In fact, many of us find it difficult to even adhere to the Sunnah or Hadith with respect to worship but add to our hardship (or maybe ease) we end up creating new forms of worship just so we can follow them. Everything that we do with respect to worship needs to be traced back to the Quran and the Hadith and needs to be avoided even if we may believe that they are good for us. If they were good for us in the first place, they would be prescribed by God!
Prophet Muhammad said:
“… The most truthful speech is the Book of Allah. The best way is the way of Muhammad. The worst of affairs are the novelties and every novelty is an innovation and every innovation is misguidance and every misguidance is in the Fire.” (An-Nasa’i)
In worldly matters, there is flexibility in jurisdiction as everything is considered lawful, unless mentioned as unlawful. This is different in matters concerning worship, where everything is unlawful, unless prescribed.
In worldly matters, flexibility in how we eat, how we prepare our meals, how we raise our children, how we sleep and how we travel are permitted unless mentioned otherwise. But of course, there is a Hadith for nearly everything, and it is recommended that we follow how Prophet Muhammad conducted his affairs.
There are many verses in the Quran, which pose as guides in the way a Muslim needs to lead their lives. This will not be easy to translate since not many people know how to translate. Some want to know the parables, the deeds and the teachings of the prophet and this is through the hadith. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) wanted to clarify to the Islamic faith culture and all the details that do pertain to the rules, structures and the way of life of being a Muslim. The Quran acts like the guidebook, which is represented in different structures and the Muslims, need to follow the word to the core. The hadith shows how to act in a certain situation, how to respond to certain matters and how to lead a good life. There are always themes that one will follow and this creates the impression of how one needs to lead their Islamic way of life. It is paramount for everyone to follow the codes, the examples, and the Hadith and Sunnah if they follow the Islamic faith.With the hadith, most Muslims grow up knowing how to lead a holy life just like the one the prophet set and the examples indicated in the Quran. One needs to keep on revising them to have a deeper understanding to them and see how it will help them with the current situation. Islam is a worldwide religion and it has now become very easy to access it through the online channel. Many Muslims gather in the mosques to find out more on the teachings and this will aid them along the way. The Islamic teachers find it relevant to place daily situations, and assist them to lead a religious life.
From the little children to the aged, it is now very easy to find the hadith in the online source and religious books and they end up elaborating them and placing them in the present context. These act as guides and they go a long way in giving one the right following to have a holy life as required in the Islamic way of life. It is important to keep on going through the hadith and Sunnah all the time and they will end up being clearer with time. This will enable one to have a deeper understanding on the Islamic way of life.