WHAT IS HADITH AND THE DIFFERENT SUNNI/SHIIA COLLECTIONS.

[N. Truth Seeker]

 
   everyone

Unlike quite many others, I've found Hadith to have played a very positive role in helping me through life and understanding Islam. 

For those who are new at Hadith, I would like to introduce you all to the basics of this institution.

First of all, Hadith narrations are considered to be the thoughts expressed by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), not directly, but reported through a companion, sometimes through more than one companion.  Or, as it is said, all hadith collections are the alleged traditions of the Prophet (pbuh) and handed down by the disciples of imams.  Both Sunnis and Shiias have their different collections of Hadith.

The Sunni Hadith collections are:

-  Sahih al-Bukhari
-  Muslim bin al-Hajaj
-  Sunan Abu Dawood
-  Al-Tirmidhi
-  An-Nasai
-  Ibn Maja and
-  Al-Muwatta of Imam Malik


The Shiia Hadith collections are:

-  Al-Kafi & Behar al-Anwar
"A Bundle of Flowers fromt he Gardens of Traditions of the Prophet and Ahlul Bayt."
-  Al-Istibsaar
-  Al-Tahzeeb
-  Mun La Yahduruttu Al-faqeeh


Unlike the Sunni hadith collections, Shiia ahadith are not found that easily on the websites. 

Just as the author of Sahih al-Bukhari narrations is Imam Bukhari, the author of Al-Kafi is Abu Jafer Mohammad bin Ishaq al-Kuliani, died 328 AH.  Al-Kafi of the Shiias is equivalent of Al-Bukhari of Sunnis.  Al-Kafi literally means 'sufficient for religious needs.'  Al-Kuliani came from a village in Iran called Kulian.  Al-Kafi is again sub-divided into 3 sections. 

"Sunnah," a word frequently used as synonym for Hadith means "path, lifestyle and manners."

Every hadith consists of a statement about the chain of tradition (narrators) called "isnad," and then the text of the hadith.  Example, Ismail b. Ibrahim spoke to us.  He said Abu Haiyam al-Taimi told us about Abu Zara who commented from Abu Hurayra who said: "The Prophet (pbuh) was among the people one day ...."

Hadith is second of the 4 sources of Islamic Laws.  The 4 sources are:

1 - Quran
2 - Hadith
3 - Final analogy in questions of law based on Quran & Sunnah for Sunnis and reason among Shiias
4 - Consensus of Islamic scholars or Fiqh

[Zainab_M]

   ..  useful information.  thanks brother.  so, why aren't Shiia ahadeeth not available on the web? 

[N. Truth Seeker]

  ..  so, why aren't Shiia ahadeeth not available on the web? 

That's a good question.  I too don't know why.  If anyone wants to get acquainted with shiia hadith online, the best place is at shiachat.com  or one can get regular books on shiia hadith.

[AceOfHearts]

Hadith is second of the 4 sources of Islamic Laws.  The 4 sources are:

I hope you don't believe in that, and that you're just making a statement showing what others believe.

As a reminder for us all, the Qur'an is the only source of Law from Allah:

"And as such, We have sent it down: a law in Arabic. And if you follow their desires after what has come to you of the knowledge, then you will not have any ally or defender against God." [Qur’an 13:37]

Peace.

[N. Truth Seeker]

I hope you don't believe in that, and that you're just making a statement showing what others believe.

As a reminder for us all, the Qur'an is the only source of Law from Allah:

"And as such, We have sent it down: a law in Arabic. And if you follow their desires after what has come to you of the knowledge, then you will not have any ally or defender against God." [Qur’an 13:37]

Peace.

   dear brother.  i put this post more from the legal view point than the religious one.  even according to the Islamic legal system, as you can see, the Quran comes first.  also as reality happens to be, and which you surely know, new systems have been set up - either because of the emergence of new issues or in some cases just for the purpose of bringing in social changes (a lot of us admit that) - and these issues have given rise to those other institutions that I've mentioned that today make up the mainstream.  I am aware that individuals and groups of individuals differ.  but from a comprehensive angle, the mainstream has to be taken in account.   it's about putting what exists on the table rather than picking what I or someone else might think is right or wrong.

JazekAllah Khairyan.  peace to u and everyone.