Differnt Types of Hadith And Their Meanings

Differnt Types of Hadith And Their Meanings

The sole purpose behind sending Prophets by Allah SWT among different nations over the course of history of existence on planet earth has always been to educate them about His teachings and bring them towards morality and Monotheism.

For this, the Almighty Lord also revealed His Instructions in the form of Divine Manuscripts proving as guiding principles for them. The Holy Quran is the last Sacred Book of the Creator of the universe that He sent upon His Final Messenger, Hazrat Muhammad to be a source of enlightenment for the entire mankind. He also directed the believers to follow the footsteps of His Messenger besides His Revelations in order to be successful.

Say, [O Muhammad], “If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” [Quran, 3: 31]

The above mentioned Ayah Kareema clearly shows that we cannot only take help from the Quranic Commands rather we are also required to pursue Sunnah of the Holy Prophet. It is because of the fact that the entire life of Rasulullah had been nothing but a never dying effort to perfect the Ultimate Rulings of the Most Merciful through His rightful actions.

It means that we should not take help from one source only rather we have to combine both the Wisdom of Furqan e Hameed and Sunnah of the Apostle of God together in order to benefit from them more fruitfully. Fortunately for us, with the Grace of the Gracious Lord, the righteous companions were awarded with tremendous amount of memory which made them able to learn Sayings of Prophet ﷺ by heart and record them for future generations to come.

Composition of Hadith

It is widely known among Muslims all over the world that any specific wording of the Messenger of Allah SWT on a given topic or theme of subject is known as a “Hadith”. It is obligatory upon every disciple of Islam to know, act upon and spread the Proverbs of Rasulullah as these are the words full of wisdom which result in one`s success both in this world and in the hereafter. Hadith, in general is composed of three basic components which are given below:

1. Matn/Content: It is the main passage which is the actual centre of attraction for the reader. It normally tells about the right way of actions in different circumstances of life.
2. Isnad/Sequence of Reporters: A series of correspondents through which Hadith has spread.
3. Taraf/Introductory Text: The earlier portion of main substance which acts as a groundwork for further lesson present in the Saying. It usually acts as a reference towards the deeds or personality of the Holy Prophet ﷺ.

These are the necessary three constituents which need to be present in any text for naming it as a Hadith.

Categorization of Hadith

The taxonomy of the Prophetic (PBUH) axioms has been very carefully devised according to different sets of classifications along with their further kinds. Following are the five basic arrangements of Ahadiths on the basis of particular grounds:

1. According to reference to a particular Authority
2. According to the links of Isnad
3. According to a number of reporters
4. According to nature of Matn and Isnad
5. According to Authenticity of Correspondents

Now let us briefly discuss these classes of Hadith one by one:

i)                    According to Reference to a Particular Authority

According to careful research, Hadith is divided into four additional kinds under this category:

1. Qudsi: meaning “Divine”. It is a Heavenly text which was directly sent upon the Holy Prophet (PBUH), Who passed it on to His followers Himself.
2. Marfu`: meaning “Elevated”. It has got very important status in Islam as it was directly heard from the Messenger (PBUH) of God Himself by His companions and was brought forward.
3. Mauquf: meaning “Stopped”. It is a kind of command which was directly given by Rasulullah (PBUH) to His cohorts who forwarded it.
4. Maqtu`: meaning “Severed”. It is a form of Instruction which is plainly described by Successor in his own words.

ii)                  According to the links of Isnad

Hadith is further divided into six groups under this category:

1. Musnad: meaning “Supported”. Isnad being reported by a well known companion of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) although final narrator might not be with Him at that time.
2. Muttasil: meaning “Continuous”. The one with undisturbed Isnad relating back to rightful friend or its heir.
3.  Mursal: meaning “Hurried”. It missed a connection between the storyteller and the Messenger (PBUH).
4. Munqati`: meaning “Broken”. Hadith with a link being absent before it reaches the Successor of the actual narrator.
5. Mu`adal: meaning “Perplexing”. The one in which narrator misses multiple reported in an order in Isnad of the Hadith.
6. Mu`allaq: meaning “Hanging”. It fails to spot the complete Isnad of the Hadith.

iii)                According to a number of reporters

It is divided into two more sub-groups:

1. Mutawatir: meaning “Consecutive”. Hadith being reported such a large number of rightful companions that it is agreed upon as authentic.
2. Ahad: meaning “Isolated”. The one which has been narrated by a countable number of people.

It has been further categorized into three sub-types:

1. Mash’hur: meaning “Famous”. Hadith which is related by more than two individuals.
2. Aziz: meaning “Rare yet Strong”. The one having only two reporters in its Isnad.
3. Gharib: meaning “Strange”. Saying of Holy Prophet (PBUH) with only one narrator in its Isnad.

iv)                According to nature of Matn and Isnad

It is split into two major kinds:

1. Munkar: meaning “Denounced”. A Hadith belonging to a weak reporter.
2. Mudraj: meaning “Interpolated”. The one having some adding up of words to the authentic Hadith by its narrator.

v)                  According to Authenticity of Correspondents

It has the following three categories:

1. Sahih: meaning “Sound”. A hadith reported by a trustworthy reporter known for his truthfulness, knowledge, correct way of narrations etc.
2. Hasan: meaning “Good”. The one whose reporters are know and is clear-cut.
3. Da`if: meaning “Weak”. A hadith ranking under that of Hasan because of failing to address the Isnad properly.
4. Maudu`: meaning “Fabricated”. Hadith having wording opposite to the confirmed Prophetic (PBUH) traditions.

In short, Hadith is an integral part of Islamic teachings through which Muslims all over the world get insight about many aspects of life. Therefore, one must know about its different kinds so as to become able to distinguish the authentic ones from the rest which have weak links in its key constituents.