·
The
purpose of the science of Hadith is the documentation of the Sunnah (The
Prophet’s deeds and traditions) according to the narration and content, and
judging the validity of the Hadiths.
·
In
absolute terms, Hadith refers to all that pertains to the Prophet’s sayings,
doings, tacit approval of a practice, or a description of the Prophet presented
by one of the Companions. It is also known as a traceable Hadith.
·
Al-Qudsi
Hadith is that in which Allah speaks through the Prophet who expressed the
meaning with his own words.
·
Arrested
(Mawquf) Hadith is that which is ascribed to the companions, not to the Prophet.
·
A
discontinuous Hadith is one whose chain of transmission ends with a successor,
rather than a Companion or the Prophet.
The
chain of Hadith narration:
·
The
method of chaining Hadith narration: hearsay from a Hadith
narrator, reading or showing (for approval) to the narrator, the narrator’s
permission to assign another to narrate on his behalf, the narrator’s
reference to the original of his writing, and the narrator’s assignment of
another to write a copy of his writing.
·
The
Hadith is divided, according to its number of channels, into: Mutawatir and Ahad.
·
Mutawatir
Hadiths are those related by whole groups of trustworthy individuals (may be
five, ten, or more) from whole groups, in multiple generations of transmission,
leading back to the Prophet himself, such that the sheer number of separate
channels, at each generation of transmission is too many to be possible for all
to have conspired to fabricate the Hadith.
·
Ahad
Hadith: it is that Hadith in which the conditions of the Mutawatir Hadith are
not satisfied in one or more generations of transmission:
a)
A Well-known Hadith is one whose channels of transmission came through only
three people up to five at any point in its history.
b) A Rare Hadith (`Aziz)
is one transmitted through just two for each generation of its transmission.
c) A Singular Hadith (Gharib)
is one transmitted through just one individual at any stage in the history of
its transmission.
·
A Hadith
is also termed Well-known if it is well-known in the concerned circles,
regardless of the terminological definition. A Well-known Hadith, in that sense,
is not necessarily an authentic one.

A
Relevant Hadith
The
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: