Definition

1. Noun:
   • (Islam) A tradition or report containing the recorded sayings, actions, and tacit approvals of the Prophet Muhammad and his companions. These reports form a primary source of religious law and moral guidance for Muslims, second only to the Qur'an.
   • (Islam) The collective body of these traditions, constituting a major component of Islamic law and theology. This refers to the entire corpus of these narrations, studied to understand the prophetic example (Sunnah).

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Scholars meticulously examine the chain of narrators to verify the authenticity of a hadith.
  • The Hadith provides crucial context for understanding many Qur'anic verses.
  • He dedicated his life to studying the hadith of the Prophet.

Advanced Usage

• "Science of Hadith" (ʿilm al-ḥadīth): The scholarly discipline concerned with the critical evaluation of the authenticity of hadith reports, analyzing the reliability of narrators (isnad) and the text (matn).

  • Mastering the Science of Hadith is essential for Islamic jurists.

• "Hadith Qudsi": A sub-category of hadith where the Prophet Muhammad narrates words from God that are not part of the Qur'an.

  • A Hadith Qudsi begins with phrases like "The Prophet said, regarding what he narrates from his Lord..."

Variants and Related Words

• Sunnah (n): The practices, teachings, and way of life of the Prophet Muhammad, as derived from the hadith. While closely related, is the normative practice, and is the vehicle of its transmission.
• Isnad (n): The chain of transmitters cited for a hadith.
• Matn (n): The actual text or content of the hadith report.

Synonyms

• Tradition: In the specific Islamic context, a report or narrative from the Prophet.
• Narration: An account or report of the Prophet's words or deeds.
• Report: A transmitted account of a saying or action.

Related Phrases

• "Authentic hadith" (Sahih): A hadith that has been verified as reliably attributed to the Prophet Muhammad.

  • Bukhari and Muslim compiled the most famous collections of authentic hadith.

• "Weak hadith" (Da'if): A hadith with a broken or unreliable chain of transmission.

  • Jurists do not base legal rulings on a weak hadith.

Related Idioms/Concepts

• "Following the Hadith": Adhering to the prophetic example as a guide for personal conduct and religious practice.
  • His piety was evident in his strict following of the Hadith.

Noun

1. (Islam) the way of life prescribed as normative for Muslims on the basis of the teachings and practices of Muhammad and interpretations of the Koran
2. (Islam) a tradition based on reports of the sayings and activities of Muhammad and his companions