Sciences of HADITH & SUNNAHDR. MUHAMMAD WASIE FASIH BUTT

Two Types Of Divine Revelations1. the spoken [matluww]2. the unspoken [ghair-matluww].Read this ayah carefully:“And We appointed the QIBLA to which you were used

only to test those who followed the messenger from those who would turn on their heels.”(2:143)

In this ayah, Allah mentions the first order, which was to face towards Jerusalem, as His own order.

Definition Of HADITHLiterally means:"report, account, or narrative”In Islamic terminology, the term HADITH refers to

“reports of statements or actions of Muhammad (sallahu alaihe wasallam) , or of his tacit approval or criticism of something said or done in his presence.”

HADITH & SUNNAHMeans: every narration related

to the prophet (sallahu alaihe wasallam)

Hades may be abrogated, e.g.: praying towards the BAITUL MAQDAS( bukhari:399)

The narration can be regarding urgency arrived. e.g. relaxing while standing(bukhari:224)

Narration may be confine to the prophet (sallahu alaihe wasallam) only. e.g. nine wives

Means: model behavior of prophet (sallahu alaihe wasallam)

SUNNAH don’t contain any abrogated HADITH.

SUNNAH is applicable for all times

Ummati can follow every SUNNAH

Authority Of SUNNAHProficiency in the Arabic language alone cannot help us

grasp the meaning of the Qur’an. Remember, the shaba (raziallahu anhum), who spoke fluent Arabic, always turned to the Blessed Prophet (sallahu alaihe wasallam) to understand the deeper meanings of the Qur’an. Event of Hazrat ADI BIN HATIM (raziallahu anhu) related to ayat of sehri.

If we know the Qur’an and its place, it is only because the Blessed Prophet (sallahu alaihe wasallam) said, “This is the Qur’an; it is the word of Allah” If we were to reject this hadīth then the whole foundation of Islam collapses.

Authority Of SUNNAH(cont’d)Allah says to the Prophet (sallahu alaihe wasallam)• “And We have sent unto you the message, that you

may explain clearly to men what is sent for them.”(16:44)

• This ayah proves that the fundamental role of prophet (sallahu alaihe wasallam) is to reveal the meaning of the Qur’an, which means that the Qur’an cannot be understood without the prophet (sallahu alaihe wasallam).

Following ayah points towards an event, which could not be understand without SUNNAH.

• “And (He relented) towards the three whose matter was deferred” (al tauba:118)

Arguments Against The Preservation Of SUNNAH John Esposito notes that "Modern

Western scholarship has seriously questioned the historicity and authenticity of the hadith", maintaining that "the bulk of traditions attributed to the Prophet Muhammad were actually written much later.“

He mentions Joseph Schacht as one scholar who argues this, claiming that "found no evidence of legal traditions before 722,”(Islam: The Straight Path,p:67, Islamic History. pp. 83–84.)

Three Methods Of Preservation1.MemorizationThe Arabs were renowned for their memories, particularly their ability to memorize long poems along with the biographies of their authors. Not only that, the Arabs also memorized the lineage of their horses, even the horse’s gaits. Event of hazrat ABU HURAIRA (raziallahu anhu) with MARWAN

Three Methods Of Preservation2.PracticeBecause of their deep love for the Blessed Prophet

(sallahu alaihe wasallam), the sahaba kiram (raziallahu anhum) preserved every aspect of the Blessed Prophet’s life; his worship, the way he ate, slept, worked, etc.

Hazrat ANAS (raziallahu anhu) narrated: “I saw the Blessed Prophet (sallahu alaihe wasallam) searching for pieces of squash in a bowl of curry. From that day on, I got in loved with squash.”

Three Methods Of Preservation3.Documentationmany collections of HADITH were compiled during the lifetime of the

Blessed Prophet (sallahu alaihe wasallam). For example, there is the AL-SAHIFAT-UL-SADIQA by hazrat ABDULLAH IBN AMAR (raziallahu anhu).

He himself said:“I wrote whatever I heard from the Blessed Prophet (sallahu alaihe wasallam)

and memorized it. Some members of Quraish discouraged me from recording. They said, “Do you write whatever you hear from the Prophet? He is a man; sometimes he jokes and sometimes he gets angry like any other person.” The Blessed Prophet (sallahu alaihe wasallam) pointed to his lips and said, “I swear in the name of Allah, in whose hands is my life, that nothing but truth comes from these two lips”(sunane abu dawood)

Categories of HADITHSAHĪH (authentic) - transmitted through an unbroken chain of

narrators all of whom are of sound character and memory. HASAN(approved) - transmitted through an unbroken chain of

narrators all of whom are of sound character but weak memory.DHA‘ĪF( weak) - which cannot gain the status of HASAN

because it lacks one or more elements of a HASAN hadīth. For example, if the narrator is not of sound memory and sound character, or if there is a hidden fault in the narrative or if the chain of narrators is broken.

MAWDŪ‘ - fabricated and wrongly ascribed to the Prophet (sallahu alaihe wasallam)

Leanings1. Dha‘īf( weak) is also HADITH, denying every

Dha‘īf( weak) HADITH will lead to denial of all HADITH itself.

2. weakness of HADITH can be compensated by other supports, so should not blame any jurisprudence without complete study.

3. Authenticity check must be done before forwarding any HADITH., since forwarding fake HADITH is a great sin

Do BUKHĀRY And MUSLIM Contain All The Authentic HADITHs?It is like saying that “instead of following the whole

Qur’an; let’s just follow the twenty fourth chapter.”there are many authentic HADITHs besides the HADITHs of BUKHĀRY and MUSLIM.

Imam BUKHĀRY himself wrote: “I have only put authentic HADITHs in my book, but also left many authentic HADITHs for fear of the book becoming too drawn-out.”(Siyar I‘lam al-Nubala, 12/402)