Hadith: Difference between revisions

The '''Hadith''' (الحديث ahadith, plural) are traditions of the Islamic Prophet [[Muhammad]], giving us important information about him and his life. They are usually narrations about a certain incident in which he said or did something. Unlike the [[Qur'an]], they typically follow a chronological order, and most of them are compiled by category (i.e. [[Jihad]], [[Nikah]], etc.).

The Hadith is where Muslims determine the [[Sunnah]] (or ''way''‎) of the prophet, which is Muhammad's words, actions, and practices. This is key to [[Islam]] since Muslims are commanded to obey and [[Uswa Hasana|emulate him]], so even the most insignificant of actions on his part have a drastic effect upon the doctrines and [[Islamic Law|laws]] of Islam.

The word '[[Sunni]]' comes from the word 'Sunnah', and most of the world's Muslims (up to 90%)<ref name="rl"></ref><ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/295507/Islam Islām] - Encyclopædia Britannica (2010)</ref><ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/574006/Sunnite Sunnite] - Encyclopædia Britannica (2010)</ref><ref name="pew">[http://pewforum.org/Muslim/Mapping-the-Global-Muslim-Population%286%29.aspx Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World’s Muslim Population] - Pew Research Center, October 7, 2009</ref><ref name="pew2">Tracy Miller - [http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/Muslimpopulation/Muslimpopulation.pdf Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Muslim Population] - Pew Research Center, October 2009</ref> follow this Sunni form of Islam. There are certain Hadith considered by most Sunnis to be trustworthy and these are commonly known as the ''Authentic Six''. Only two of them are actually labeled as authentic ([[sahih]]), and they are [[Sahih Bukhari|Bukhari]] and Muslim. These collections are second only to the Qur'an in authority. The others are from Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa'i, and Ibn Majah. In strength, Malik's Muwatta' is placed just below the two Sahihs, but is not generally included among the six.<ref>[http://www.abc.se/~m9783/n/vih_e.html Various Issues About Hadiths] - by Sh. G. F. Haddad</ref>

*[{{Compendium-of-muslim-texts-base-url}}/hadith/bukhari/ Sahih Bukhari]  

In [[Shiite|Shi'ite]] Islam (approx 10-20% of the world's Muslim population)<ref name="rl">[http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/comparison_charts/islamic_sects.htm Comparison of Sunni and Shia Islam] - ReligionFacts</ref><ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/540503/Shiite Shīʿite] - Encyclopædia Britannica Online (2010)</ref><ref name="pew"></ref><ref name="pew2"></ref> they have their own collections and are more particular in regards to the Hadith narrations they will accept. If a narrator was not a member of the Ahl al-Bayt (Muhammad's household) or one of their supporters, then the narration is typically rejected. For example, they reject narrations from Abu Huraira. Al-Kafi is the most reliable Shi'ite hadith.<ref>[http://www.ahya.org/amm/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=72 Al Kafi - The Bukhari of Shi'ism] - AHYA</ref>

This minority group rejects the Hadith altogether and are classed as heretics by mainstream Islam. This "Qur'an-only" approach to the Islamic faith is not without [[Qur'an Only Islam - Why it is Not Possible|its problems]].

* [[Sahih Bukhari]]