Compilation of HADITH
Compilation during Life of Holy Prophet (pbuh):
Prophet himself would give instructions about the transmission of what
he taught,
“Preach what you hear me say. Also let those who see and hear me,
take upon themselves to communicate my words to others and preach
to their children, relatives and friends.”
There is another report according to which on the Farewell Pilgrimage,
the Prophet said,
“He who is present here should carry this message to him who is
absent.”
The companions considered it their duty to preach the Ahadis to those
who had not seen or listened to him A party of students called Ashab-e-
suffah lived in the mosque itself were entrusted with the teaching of
religion to tribes outside Madinah . From this group most famous was
Abu Hurairah who remained in The Prophet Company at all the times
and store up his memory every thing that Prophet said or did. Abu
Hurairah efforts were from the very beginning directed towards the
preservation of Ahadis.
It is related from Abu Hurairah that once one of the companions told
the Prophet of his inability to remember what he heard from him. His
reply was:
“Take the help from your right hand” (Tirmizi)
i.e., write it down. Abdullah bin Umar (R) began to write down
whatever he heard from the Holy Prophet (pbuh) . His collections
contained around 10,000 Ahadis. Abdullah bin Umar himself said: “I
used to write everything that I heard from the Prophet (pbuh) intending
to commit it to memory”. I spoke about it to the prophet (pbuh) who
said:
“Write down, for I only speak the truth” (Abu Daud)
An other report of Abu Hurairah: ‘None of the companions preserved
more traditions than myself , but Abdullah bin Amr is an exception for
he used to write and I did not’. Hazrat Ali used to write down ahadis
concerning the Orders, Instructions issued from Holy Prophet (pbuh).
Hazrat Aisha also used to preserved the says of Holy Prophet (pbuh)
Abdullah bin umar and Abdullah bin Abbas were engaged in preserving
and transmitting the ahadis. The Compilation of Abdullah bin Umar was
known as Sadiqa. Process of compilation started in the Life of Holy
Prophet (pbuh)
Collection and Compilation After the death Of Holy Prophet (s)
After the Death of Holy Prophet , Islam was widely spread , new
converts wanted to hear about Prophet (pbuh) from close companions
and associates The companions were the beat authority for Knowledge
of ahadis and sunnah as they had listened to Prophet(pbuh) Abu
Hurairah , Abudullah bin Abbas , Abdullah bin Umar, Anas bin Malik
became the centre to whom people came from different parts of the
Islamic empire to gain Knowledge about the Prophet (pbuh). Prophet
(pbuh) wives were also vital custodians of Ahadis and were approached
for instruction by other companions. Hazrat Aisha, Hazrat Hafsa, Hazrat
umm-e- Habibah , Hazrat Maimunah and Umme-e-Salamah are among
the earliest and most distinguished transmitters.
The Age of Companion ( 11-100 AH ) Approximately During this period
Caliph Umar bin Abdul Aziz wrote to the governor of Madina to write
down all the tradition of the Holy Prophet(pbuh) During this period the
companions spread far and wide and settled in almost all the countries
conquered by the Muslims. There was no book of compilation. The only
alternative was to go to companion and hear the tradition from him.
Thus, different centers of learning arose Students were not satisfied
with only one centre, because that particular companion might have no
Knowledge of all the traditions. It was reported that Jabir bin’ Abdullah
travelled from Makkah to Syria to hear a single hadith. Similarly there
were many companions who undertook long journeys to verify or hear
sayings of Holy Prophet (pbuh) The important works of that period
were: 1 : The works of Shihab Al Zuheri. 2: Collection of Abu Bakr Al
Hazim
The Age of followers of the Companions (Tabaeens 101-200 AH): This is
the age of followers of the companions of the Prophet (pbuh). The most
important works of this period were carried out by:
· Abudullah bin Mubarik at Khorasan.
· Abu Bakr Rabi Shybah at Kufa
· Sufyan bin’Uyaina at Madina
· Imam Makhul in syria.
· Abu Kilabah.
The out standing works of this period were:
· Al Muwatta by Imam Malek bin Anas Kittab
· Al-Athar by Imam Ahu Hanifa
· Al-Musanaf by Imam Razzak
· Jami Thauri by Imam Sufyan al-Thauri Kitab
· Al-Kharaj by Imama Yousaf
· Masnad Ahmed bin Humbal by Imam Ahmed Hanbal
· Al-Maghazi by Waqidi
The Hanafi and Maliki School of Legal thoughts were formulated during
this period in the light of the ahadith. Abu Hanifa founded the school of
deduction or Qiyas By the end of second Century Imam Shafey and
Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal also flourished.
Age of followers of the followers (Taba Tabaeen 200-300 AH): This is
Golden age of Traditions. The six authentic books of traditions (al Sahah
–al Sitta) were written. These are the most reliable books of traditions.
(1) Sahih Bukhari: Written by Muhammad bin ‘Abdullah’ Ismael al-
Bukhari(195-256 AH) Took 40 years for collection. His Sahih is next to
Quran in authenticity. He selected nearly 7275 out of 600,000
traditions. He accepted only reliable traditions.
(2) Sahih Muslim: written by ‘Abdul Hussain Muslim bin al Hajaj al-
Nishapuri-Qushaieri (304-216 A.H) . He travelled many places to learn
Hadith. His Sahih consist of 9200 traditions selected out of 300,000. It is
considered next to Bukhari . Any tradition accepted by both Bukahri and
Muslim has been termed as agreed.
(3) Sunan of Abu Daud: Abu Daud wrote it during 202-275 AH. He
travelled to all important centers of traditions. It consists of 4800
traditions selected out of 500,000 and it took him 20 years to complete
his book.
(4) Jami Tirmidhi: written by Abu’Isa-al-Tirmidhi during 209-279 AH. He
was first man to determine the names, surnames and titles of narrators
of traditions.
(5) Sunan of Nisai: was written by Abu’Abdur Rahman an Nisai during
214-303 AH . It also contains weak and doubtful traditions.
(6) Sunan of ibn Majah: written by Mohammad bin Yezid ibn Majah
during 209-273.AH.
SHI’A BOOKS:
Authentic books of Shia’s were also compiled during that period.
Important are:
(1)Al-Kafi fi ilm al deen (the sufficient in the science of religion): it was
written by Abu J’afar Muhammed who died in 339 AH.
(2)Al-Istibsar (the prespective): written by Abu J’afar Bin Al Hassan who
died in 389AH.
(3)Tehzeeb-ul-Ahkam (the revision of judgemens)t: written by Abu J’afar
Mohammed Bin Al Hassan.
(4)Man la Yahzoroh ul Fiqh (one who has no legal expert present):
written by Abu J’afar Muhammad’ Ali.
