Hadith

This section contains a wide selection of the books you need to learn the science of hadith. We have selected these books on the basis of their reliability. Along with the Koran, the prophetic narratives represent the heart of our religion. As the two are complementary, one cannot exist without the other.

Every Muslim should have books in which the hadiths are recorded. These books are called collections of ahadith.

What does the word hadith mean in Islam?

Literally speaking, the Arabic word "hadith" is a synonym for "jadid", meaning new. As for the term "ahadith", it represents its plural form.

In Islam, it embodies all the information that has come down to us from Allah's messenger. It includes his sayings, deeds, character traits and approvals.

The ahadiths are the second source of dalil in Islam, complementing the Koran. Dalil means the evidence we rely on to justify our acts of worship.

The science of hadith covers many fields. These include memorization, terminology and what is known in Arabic as 'ilm ar rijal. No Muslim can question the necessity of this science, on which our acts of devotion are based.

The Sunnah explained by scholars

Virtually every Muslim has a collection of ahadith in his or her personal mektaba .Sahih Al Bukhari and Sahih Muslim are the most famous because of their high degree of authenticity.

Nevertheless, there are a multitude of similar works written by ancient and contemporary scholars. Among the contemporary ulama who have distinguished themselves in this field isSheikh Al Albani. These remarkable works have earned him a strong reputation. Indeed, Muslims are calmed when they hear that a hadith has been authenticated by Sheikh Al Albani, rahimahullah.

Hadith and Sunnah: almost the same thing

Muslims pronounce the attestation of faith several times a day, through salât or dhikr. But do you really understand its deeper meaning? It's up to every believer to know what la ilaha illa'llah means , and to understand the names of Allah.

As for the second part of this attestation, it involves recognizing Muhammad Ibn Abdillah as a prophet and messenger. It also involves abiding by his Sunnah. This Arabic term refers tothe prophetic tradition. It should be observable not only in the appearance, but also in the behavior of over two billion people on Earth.

To find out about the Sunnah of Allah's messenger, we need to go back to the collections of ahadiths. The Koran also contains passages that describe the best of mankind. Our belief draws its essence from these two sources.

Discovering the Sunnah

Now you know what a hadith is. However, the path you've just taken will show you that there are many different versions of hadith. But to find out more, you need to consult the books that deal with terminology. The ulama direct beginners to read the Bayquniyyah commentary. Sheikh Ibn Uthaymin, rahimahullah, offers a simple and concise explanation, accessible to all.