Islamic Studies · Lesson 3

Hadith sciences, the six collectors, prescribed Nawawi ahadith and moral lessons

JAMBWAECNECO

What the syllabus asks

JAMB: 6 Hadith (history to the six collectors; isnad, matn, sahih/hasan/da‘if; relationship with the Qur’an; the six collectors; Imam Malik and the Muwatta’; an-Nawawi 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 25, 27, 34, 41); 7 Moral lessons in the Qur’an and Hadith (a–m)

WAEC: WAEC/NECO Part 3 Hadith 1(a)–(g), 2 (an-Nawawi 1, 5, 7, 9, 13, 15, 16, 18, 34, 41); Part 2 Qur’an 3 Moral lessons (Q.17:23–24; 31:13–15; 2:42; 61:2–3; 17:35; 2:219; 5:90–91)

NECO: WAEC/NECO Part 3 Hadith 1(a)–(g), 2 (an-Nawawi 1, 5, 7, 9, 13, 15, 16, 18, 34, 41); Part 2 Qur’an 3 Moral lessons (Q.17:23–24; 31:13–15; 2:42; 61:2–3; 17:35; 2:219; 5:90–91)

What you will learn

Define hadith and Sunnah, and distinguish them.
Trace the history of hadith from the Prophet to the six collectors.
Analyse the isnad and matn and explain the criteria of authenticity.
Distinguish sahih, hasan and da‘if ahadith.
Compare hadith with the Qur’an and state the importance of hadith.
Evaluate the lives and works of the six collectors and of Imam Malik.
Read, translate and apply the prescribed ahadith of an-Nawawi.
Apply the moral teachings of the prescribed verses and ahadith in daily life.

Key points

Hadith = report; Sunnah = way. Qawli, fi‘li, taqriri.
Qur’an vs hadith: words from Allah, mutawatir, recited in salat, inimitable vs not.
History: early caution, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr’s Sahifah, ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz, az-Zuhri, Muwatta’, Musnad, Six Books.
Isnad, matn, rawi; asma’ ar-rijal; five conditions of sahih.
Sahih, hasan, da‘if, mawdu‘; mutawatir and ahad.
Bukhari 194–256; Muslim d. 261; Abu Dawud 202–275; Tirmidhi 209–279; Nasa’i 215–303; Ibn Majah 209–273 (AH).
Malik 93–179 AH; Imam Dar al-Hijrah; Muwatta’ by fiqh topics; Maliki school in Nigeria.
Nawawi 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 25, 27, 34, 41: number, narrator, opening words, lessons.
Morals: Luqman, parents, honesty, bans, labour, modesty, chastity, justice, trust, taqwa, patience, unity, enjoining good.
Flagged prints: “Q.5:41” for stealing (read 5:38); “Q.4:14–15” for obscenity (read 4:15–16).

Start here: Hadith and Sunnah: meaning, kinds and importance

Hadith literally means “speech, report, something new”. Technically it is a report of what the Prophet (SAW) said, did or approved, and of his description. Sunnah literally means “a path, a way of life”. Technically it is the practice and way of the Prophet (SAW), which Muslims follow. The hadith is the record; the Sunnah is the way that the record teaches.

Kinds of Sunnah (in either word):

Qawli (sayings), e.g. “Actions are judged by intentions”.
Fi‘li (actions), e.g. how he performed salat and hajj: “Pray as you have seen me pray” (Sahih al-Bukhari).
Taqriri (silent approval): something done in his presence that he did not object to.

Similarities and differences between hadith and Sunnah. Both come from the Prophet (SAW), both explain the Qur’an, and both are sources of Shari‘ah. But hadith refers to the narration (it can be strong or weak), while Sunnah refers to the established practice. Some scholars also use “sunnah” for a recommended act in fiqh (as opposed to fard), which is a different use of the same word.

Hadith and the Qur’an compared (JAMB 6c):

Qur’an	Hadith
Words and meaning from Allah	Meaning inspired; words usually the Prophet’s own (except hadith qudsi, whose meaning he attributes to Allah)
All transmitted by mass transmission (mutawatir)	Most transmitted by fewer narrators; graded sahih, hasan or da‘if
Recited in salat as worship	Not recited in salat
Inimitable (i‘jaz); a challenge to produce its like	No such challenge
First source of law	Second source, explains the first

They agree in purpose: both guide belief, worship, law and morals, and true hadith never contradicts the Qur’an.

Importance of hadith:

The Qur’an commands obedience to the Prophet: “He who obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah; but those who turn away - We have not sent you over them as a guardian.” (Q.4:80) and “whatever the Messenger has given you, take; and what he has forbidden you, refrain from” (Q.59:7).
It explains the Qur’an: details of salat, zakah rates, hajj rites.
It adds rulings not detailed in the Qur’an, e.g. the prohibition of gold and silk for men.
It shows the Prophet’s character, the model for Muslims (Q.33:21).
It preserves the history of early Islam.
It is the second source of Shari‘ah after the Qur’an.

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Practice questions

1. The chain of narrators of a hadith is the

isnad
matn
rawi
sunnah

Show answer

A: isnad
The matn is the text.

2. A hadith graded sound in both chain and text is

da‘if
mawdu‘
hasan
sahih

Show answer

D: sahih
Hasan is good but slightly lower.

3. A fabricated hadith is called

hasan
mutawatir
mawdu‘
sahih

Show answer

C: mawdu‘
A lie attributed to the Prophet.

4. The compiler of al-Muwatta’ was

an-Nawawi
Imam Malik
Imam al-Bukhari
Imam Muslim

Show answer

B: Imam Malik
Malik 93–179 AH.

5. Imam al-Bukhari lived

194–256 AH
93–179 AH
204–261 AH
215–303 AH

Show answer

A: 194–256 AH
Muslim 204/206–261.

Key words

Hadith: A report of the Prophet’s sayings, actions or approvals.
Sunnah: The Prophet’s way; also a recommended act in fiqh.
Isnad / sanad: The chain of narrators.
Matn: The text of a hadith.
Rawi: A narrator (pl. ruwat).
Asma’ ar-rijal: Biographies of narrators.
Sahih: Sound hadith.
Hasan: Good hadith, acceptable.
Da‘if: Weak hadith.
Mawdu‘: Fabricated report.
Mutawatir: Mass-transmitted.
Hadith qudsi: Hadith whose meaning the Prophet attributes to Allah.

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