The Hadith

الحديث — "The Prophetic Tradition" · Second Source of Islamic Law · Compiled ~800–900 CE

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The recorded sayings, actions, and approvals of the Prophet Muhammad — the second source of Islamic law after the Quran. Compiled over 200 years after the Prophet's death through one of the most rigorous authentication methodologies in any religious tradition. This guide covers the major collections, the science of hadith criticism, key individual traditions, and the ongoing scholarly debates. Non-denominational reference. What the tradition says and how it works. No theology pushed.

Read alongside the Quran guide for the complete picture of Islamic scripture and practice.

Relationship to the Quran

The Quran

Direct divine speech. Preserved in exact wording. 114 chapters. Revealed over 23 years. Compiled immediately after the Prophet's death.

The Hadith

Prophetic reports. Human transmission of meaning. Hundreds of thousands collected. Compiled 150–250 years after the Prophet's death. Subject to authentication.

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Compilation Timeline

632 CE

Death of the Prophet. Companions transmit his sayings orally.

~650 CE

Quran compiled under Uthman. Hadith still primarily oral.

~700 CE

Second generation (Tabi'un) transmit from companions. Forgery begins to emerge.

~795 CE

Al-Muwatta compiled by Malik ibn Anas — the earliest surviving collection.

~846 CE

Sahih al-Bukhari compiled — the most authoritative Sunni collection.

~875 CE

Sahih Muslim and the Four Sunan compiled. The Kutub al-Sitta take shape.

~900 CE

Musnad Ahmad compiled. The classical hadith corpus is largely established.

Ongoing

Hadith criticism, authentication debates, and scholarly re-evaluation continue to the present day.

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"Actions are by intentions, and every person will have what they intended." — Hadith 1, Sahih al-Bukhari

Non-denominational reference guide · Read alongside the Quran guide · For religious guidance consult qualified Islamic scholarship