Table of Contents
Introduction
Hadith constitute one of the fundamental pillars of the Islamic tradition, serving as the primary means through which the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad has been transmitted and preserved over time. They collect sayings, actions, and approvals attributed to the Prophet, offering a concrete testimony of his life and teachings. Unlike the Qur’an, which is regarded as the direct revelation of DIO, Hadith developed through a complex process of oral transmission followed by systematic codification, grounded in rigorous criteria of authenticity. In this way, they not only preserve the memory of the early community, but also become an essential tool for understanding religious practice, ethics, and the formation of Islamic law.
Structure
| Element | Description | Arabic Term | Period | Characteristic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hadith | Reports and sayings attributed to the Prophet Muhammad | حديث (Ḥadīth) | 8th–9th century CE | Primary textual source for preserving the Sunnah |
| Nature | Oral traditions later compiled into written collections | – | – | Transmitted across generations before codification |
| Function | Documentation and transmission of the Sunnah | – | – | Bridge between lived example and written record |
| Isnad | Chain of transmitters linking the report back to the Prophet | إسناد (Isnād) | – | Used to assess authenticity and reliability |
| Matn | Textual content of the report | متن (Matn) | – | Contains narrative, legal, or ethical teaching |
| Classification | Evaluation of authenticity | – | – | Ṣaḥīḥ (sound), Ḥasan (good), Ḍaʿīf (weak) |
| Collections | Major compilations of Hadith | – | 9th century CE | Structured books organized by topic or law |
| Canonical Sunni Collections | Six major recognized collections | – | – | Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah |
| Transmission Method | Scholarly verification and memorization | – | – | Strict criteria for reliability of narrators |
| Role in Law | Source of Islamic jurisprudence | – | – | Used alongside the Qur’an to derive rulings |
Hadith Collections
| ID | Raccolta | Autore | Tradizione | Periodo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD-001 | Sahih al-Bukhari | al-Bukhari | Sunni | IX sec. |
| HD-002 | Sahih Muslim | Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj | Sunni | IX sec. |
| HD-003 | Sunan Abu Dawud | Abu Dawud | Sunni | IX sec. |
| HD-004 | Jami’ al-Tirmidhi | al-Tirmidhi | Sunni | IX sec. |
| HD-005 | Sunan al-Nasa’i | al-Nasa’i | Sunni | IX sec. |
| HD-006 | Sunan Ibn Majah | Ibn Majah | Sunni | IX sec. |
| HD-007 | Muwatta Malik | Malik ibn Anas | Sunni | VIII sec. |
| HD-008 | Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal | Ahmad ibn Hanbal | Sunni | IX sec. |
| HD-009 | Sunan al-Darimi | al-Darimi | Sunni | IX sec. |
| HD-010 | Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah | Ibn Khuzaymah | Sunni | IX sec. |
| HD-011 | Sahih Ibn Hibban | Ibn Hibban | Sunni | X sec. |
| HD-012 | Mustadrak al-Hakim | al-Hakim | Sunni | X sec. |
| HD-013 | Al-Kafi | al-Kulayni | Shia | X sec. |
| HD-014 | Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih | al-Saduq | Shia | X sec. |
| HD-015 | Tahdhib al-Ahkam | al-Tusi | Shia | XI sec. |
| HD-016 | Al-Istibsar | al-Tusi | Shia | XI sec. |
| HD-017 | Jami Sahih | al-Rabi ibn Habib | Ibadi | VIII–IX sec. |
| HD-018 | Riyad al-Salihin | al-Nawawi | Sunni | XIII sec. |
| HD-019 | Al-Arba’in al-Nawawiyya | al-Nawawi | Sunni | XIII sec. |
| HD-020 | Bulugh al-Maram | Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani | Sunni | XIV sec. |
| HD-021 | Mishkat al-Masabih | al-Tabrizi | Sunni | XIV sec. |
| HD-022 | Fath al-Bari | Ibn Hajar | Sunni | XV sec. |
| HD-023 | Sharh Sahih Muslim | al-Nawawi | Sunni | XIII sec. |