Hadith

Abstract

Hadith (literally a report) is the orally transmitted written record of the sayings, practices and tacit approvals of the Prophet Muhammad. Conceptually related to the word ‘hadith’ is the word ‘sunna’, which means the ‘well-trodden path’ or ‘tradition’. The hadith is deemed by many Muslims to be complementary revelation to the Qur’an. It functions as one of the primary sources for Islamic law, theology and the biography of the Prophet. It also includes details of the lifestyle choices made by the Prophet, descriptions of his physical features as well as an account of his personality and characteristics. In this chapter, I explore hadith and how it impacts Islamic practices and rituals. The chapter primarily discusses hadith from an emic position and focuses on hadith studies in Sunni Islam. I discuss the relationship between the hadith and sunna, and their relation with Prophetic authority and authenticity of teaching attributed to him. I investigate different approaches employed by classical Muslim scholars to accurately trace the sunna of the Prophet. After a brief history of the documentation of hadith including its codification and its modes of verification, I discuss contemporary Muslim scholars’ attitude towards hadith and tradition as one response to modernity. I conclude the chapter by alluding to new developments in hadith studies and its application.