Description of Hadith

What is a hadith?

The Hadith is the collected traditions of the Prophet Muhammad, based on his sayings and actions. There are six canonical hadith collections that are widely accepted by Sunni Muslims; the two most famous are those of Muhammad ibn Isma‘il al-Bukhari (810–870) and Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj (817–875), both of which have the same title al-Sahih (The Authentic). Each hadith usually begins with the chain of the narrators (isnad) going back to the time of the Prophet Muhammad and his companions, which is then followed by the text of the tradition itself. Al-Bukhari compiled his compendium of hadiths with the utmost caution with regards to the authenticity of the hadith being transmitted. The hadiths relate to a broad range of subjects, from theological concerns such as revelation and the nature of God, to instructions on daily worship and rituals, to legal advice.