Hadith refers to the words, actions, and approved behaviors of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him); the sunnah is the entirety of his way of life. After the Qur'an, hadiths are the second source of religion. This page offers an introduction to the world of hadith through the Keşkül library.
How Were Hadiths Recorded?
The writing of hadiths is a well-established subject examined by Islamic scholars under the heading "kitābat al-ḥadīth" (the writing of hadith). Research shows that as early as the time of the Companions (ṣaḥāba), approximately 52 Companions wrote down hadiths; Companions such as Abdullah b. Amr recorded narrations. For an account of this process with its evidences: Hadith Writings: Evidences from the Time of the Messenger of God.
In subsequent generations, hadiths were meticulously transmitted through chains of narrators (isnād) and compiled in major collections. The life of a hadith scholar is a living example of this effort; for the life of Qatāda, one of the leading figures among the tābiʿūn (the generation after the Companions), a mufassir (Qur'anic exegete) and ḥadīth ḥāfiẓ (memorizer of hadith): There Was Handshaking Among the Companions During the Prophet's Time (see the narrator section of the article).
Major Collections in Keşkül
In our library, two classical hadith compendia can be read section by section, along with their explanations:
- Sunan Abū Dāwūd — 1,497 hadith articles focused on jurisprudence (fiqh) and practice; you can browse by sections using the subject index.
- Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn — 1,164 hadith articles from the compilation of Imām Nawawī, concerning ethics, worship, and daily life.
- Hadith Subject Index — Access over 1,150 hadiths by subject headings.
Living with Hadith
Hadiths are not dry transmissions, but guides that touch every aspect of life. An example of how a saying of the Prophet shapes daily life: when the Companions dispersed and separated from each other while camping, he said, "Your dispersing in this way along the mountain paths and riverbanks is from Satan," and from that day on, the Companions did not separate from each other (Abū Dāwūd). Source: Dispersal is from Satan, Unity is Sunnah.
For those who wish to begin memorizing hadith, we have prepared a starter set with a card system: Memorize 40 Hadith.
Related Articles
- Hadith Writings: Evidences from the Time of the Messenger of God
- Hadith Subject Index
- Sunan Abū Dāwūd Subject Index
- Memorize 40 Hadith
- Muʿādh's Mission to Yemen (an example of the instructive power of hadiths)
- All articles in the Hadith section
The next step in the guide: Worship and Ethics →