Islamic Online University The Foundations of Islamic Studies 101

Islamic
Online
University

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Islamic Online University The Foundations of Islamic Studies 101

ِ‫أُﺻُﻮلُ اﻟﺪﱢرَاﺳَﺎتِ اْﻹِﺳَﻼَﻣِﯿﱠﺔ‬

The Foundations
of
Islaamic Studies
By
Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips

CHAPTER THREE:

HADEETH

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Islamic Online University The Foundations of Islamic Studies 101

3.4 CLASSIFICATION OF HADEETH

Hadeeth are divided into two main categories: Hadeeth Saheeh and Hadeeth
Da‘eef.

The Hadeeth Saheeh

If all of the narrators in the Sanad fulfill the following three conditions, the
Hadeeth is classified as an accurate saying or action of the Prophet (r) and
named Saheeh. This means that we can be certain that the Prophet (r) actually
said or did what was reported in the Hadeeth.
(1) The narrators must all be known to be truthful.
(2) They must all have had good memories, or have written down what they
heard.1
(3) They must all have met each other.

Such a Hadeeth can be used to prove a point of Islamic Law which should be
followed. The Hadeeth are the second most important source of Islamic Law and
all true Muslims must follow them. Allaah in the Qur’aan said,

‫ﻮﺍ‬‫ﻬ‬‫ﺘ‬‫ ﻓﹶﺎﻧ‬‫ﻪ‬‫ﻨ‬‫ ﻋ‬‫ﺎﻛﹸﻢ‬‫ﻬ‬‫ﺎ ﻧ‬‫ﻣ‬‫ ﻭ‬‫ﺬﹸﻭﻩ‬‫ﻮﻝﹸ ﻓﹶﺨ‬‫ﺳ‬‫ ﺍﻟﺮ‬‫ﺎﻛﹸﻢ‬‫ﺎ ﺁﺗ‬‫ﻣ‬‫ﻭ‬

“Whatever the messenger give you, you should accept and whatever
he forbids you, you should reject.”

The only way that we can follow that command of God is to learn the Hadeeth of
the Prophet (r) and put them into practice.
The Hadeeth mentioned at the beginning of the chapter is a Hadeeth Saheeh
which teaches Muslims about Faith (Eemaan). True belief in God will cause the
believer to treat others well especially their brothers in faith. Human beings

1
Scholars later graded the memories of narrators into excellent and acceptable. If all had excellent
memories the Hadeeth was rated Saheeh, and if some were acceptable it was rated Hasan.
However, both categories are considered authentic.

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Islamic Online University The Foundations of Islamic Studies 101

naturally want to be treated nicely, as such, good treatment is an important part of

a comfortable and pleasant life. It develops love, trust, respect and many other
good characteristics among people. In order to establish good human relations,
Islaam encourage Muslims to treat others in the same good manner in which they
would like to be treated by others.
Al-Bukhaaree collected from Muhammad ibn al-Muthannaa, from ‘Abdul-
Wahhaab, from Ayyoob from Abu Qailaabah, from Maalik that the Prophet (r)
said, “ Pray as you have seen me praying.” 2 This Hadeeth fulfills the above-
mentioned conditions and is therefore Saheeh. The point of Islamic law in it is
that in formal prayer (Salaah) we must follow the method used by the Prophet
(r). Muslims are not allowed to make up their own personal style of prayer, as it
is not only disobedience to the Prophet (r) but it will also lead to confusion in the
prayer lines. The correct description of the Prophet’s (r) Salaah can be found in
the books of Hadeeth. So we must read and find out how the Prophet (r) prayed
in order to follow him properly.

The Hadeeth Da‘eef

If any of the narrators in the Sanad were known to have had any of the
following faults, the Hadeeth is then classified as being inaccurate and referred to
as Da‘eef.

If any were known to have been liars.

If any were known to have had bad memories.
If any were known to have not met the one he was supposed to be narrating from.

The Hadeeth Da‘eef is not a true saying or action of the Prophet (r) and
cannot be used to prove any point of Islamic Law. Any law which is based on
such a Hadeeth is considered incorrect. For example, Hadeeth scholars Abu
Daawood and Ahmad collected a narration from Hafs ibn Ghayyaath who
reported from ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Is-haaq from Ziyaad ibn Zayd from Abu
Juhayfah that ‘Alee ibn Abee Taalib was supposed to have said, “The Sunnah
position of hands in Salaah is to place on hand on the other hand, below the
navel.”3 However, this Hadeeth is classified as Da‘eef in the sub-category of

2
Sahih Al-Bukhari (Arabic-English), vol.1, p.345, no.604.
3
Sunan Abu Dawud (English Trans.), vol.1, p.194, no.756.

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Islamic Online University The Foundations of Islamic Studies 101

mawdoo‘ (fabricated) because ‘Abdur-Rahmaan was a known liar. Therefore, it

can not be used to support the practice of placing one’s hands below the navel in
Salaah. The correct practice is as Taawoos reported in another Hadeeth which is
Saheeh. He said that Allaah’s Messenger (r) used to put his right hand on his left
hand and place them on his chest whenever he was in Salaah.4 This Hadeeth was
also collected by Abu Daawood and Ahmad as well as Ibn Khuzaymah. Of
course, the placing of one’s hands below the navel or on the navel does not ruin
one’s Salaah.
Al-Hasan ibn ‘Ateeyah reported from Abu ‘Aatikah from Anas that the
Prophet (r) said, “Seek knowledge even in China.” This Hadeeth was collected
by the Hadeeth scholars Ibn ‘Adee and Abu Nu‘aym. Although it is commonly
quoted Hadeeth which is well known among Muslims, it is not accurate. Abu
‘Aatikah was accused of falsifying Hadeeths, thus this narration is classified as
Da‘eef. In fact, Hadeeth scholars have put it in a special category of Da‘eef
Hadeeths called Mawdoo‘ (fabricated). Consequently it is incorrect to quote this
statement as a Hadeeth of the Prophet (r), because many of his companions have
quoted him as saying, “ Let whoever deliberately lies about me take his seat in the
Hellfire.” 5
The most famous books of Hadeeths are called “the Sound Six” (as-Sihaah as-
Sittah). They are Saheeh al-Bukhaaree, Saheeh Muslim, Sunan Abu Dawood,
Sunan at-Tirmithee, Sunan an-Nasaa’ee and Sunan Ibn Maajah. The oldest
collection of Hadeeths to reach us is the Muwatta’ of Maalik and the largest
collection of Hadeeths is the Musnad of Ahmad. The most accurate collection of
Hadeeths is that of al-Bukhaaree and the second most accurate is that of Muslim.
The most accurate collection of Hadeeths is that of al Bukhaaree and the second
most accurate is that of Muslim. That is, one may freely quote Hadeeths from
both the Saheehs of al Bukhaaree and Muslim as evidence, because they are very
nearly all authentic. However, the other books of Hadeeths contain a number of
inaccurate narrations which cannot be used as evidence. Therefore, only the
Hadeeths which have been rated accurate by the scholars may be used from the
other books. It should also be noted that most modern books only mention the last
narrator before the Prophet (r) when quoting Hadeeth is order to save time and
space.

4
Sunan Abu Dawud, (English Tana.), vol.1, p.194, no.757, and rated Saheeh by al-Albaanee in
Saheeh Sunan Abee Daawood, vol.1, p.144, no.687.
5
Narrated by ‘Alee ibn Abee Taalib, Ibn ‘Abbaas, Abu Sa‘eed al-Khudree, ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr,
Abu Hurayrah, Ibn Mas‘ood, al-Mugheera ibn Shu‘bah and az-Zubayr, and collected by al-
Bukhaaree and Muslim as well as most other collectors of Hadeeths.

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