The institution “Tulu-e-Islam” repeatedly states that the collection of Hadith is essentially a form of history. It can be called “religious history” at most, but it cannot be considered a part of religion. In this regard, the full name of Imam Bukhari’s, may Allah have mercy on him, book is presented as evidence, which is as follows:
[الْجَامِعُ الصَّحِيحُ الْمُخْتَصَرُ مِنْ أُمُورِ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَأَيَّامِهِ]
Explanation of the Full Name of Sahih al-Bukhari
Interestingly, the words “Umur” (matters) and “Ayam” (days) are emphasized greatly in this name, so that Hadith can be proven to be merely history. However, the words that elevate Hadith above history are ignored. Although, by considering the name of the book, a clear distinction between history and Hadith becomes apparent:
Al-Jami’:
In the terminology of hadith scholars, “Al-Jami'” refers to a collection of hadiths that encompass every aspect of life. History only mentions political, social, or economic conditions, but “Al-Jami'” covers beliefs, actions, ethics, society, economy, and other matters such as resurrection, recompense, and topics like Paradise and Hell.
As-Sahih:
This book is also called “As-Sahih.” According to hadith scholars, a sahih hadith is one whose narrators are all trustworthy, meaning just and reliable. Additionally, the continuity of these narrators is necessary, and the hadith should not contradict any other sahih hadith.
Look at any history book, and historians do not observe such conditions. Often, baseless rumors are recorded in historical books, whose narrators are unknown. According to a famous historian, unverified events are documented in historical books, and after some time, those rumors become interesting history.
Historical Documents:
If an ancient manuscript or inscription is included in history, it is considered more authentic. The older and more termite-eaten the manuscript is, the more its importance increases, even if its narrators are unknown or the writer has no known role. Nowadays, artificial methods of producing such documents have also been discovered.
Ancient Inscriptions:
Whenever an ancient inscription is found on stone or metal, it begins to be regarded as more reliable than divine revelation, even though the author of this writing is unknown and it is not known what kind of person they were. Nowadays, the importance of such inscriptions has greatly increased, and sometimes such writings are even fabricated and buried in remote areas so that their importance can be enhanced when discovered later.
Difference between History and Hadith
In historical events, the greatest importance is given to autobiographies, but even in them, it is impossible to deny natural tendencies such as human emotions, bias, and self-praise. There is a saying in Persian: “Mullah praises himself,” meaning the mullah is praising himself, and this is a natural expression of bias. Governments and states spend large sums of money on writing and compiling history to create a narrative according to their wishes.
In contrast, when we look at the compilation of Hadith, it becomes clear that the collection of Hadith is more authentic and reliable. The main reason for this is that its earliest narrators are the pure group of the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them, who possess some important qualities, a few of which are as follows:
➊ Status as an eyewitness: The Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them, were the first individuals who were direct witnesses to any event. What they narrated, they saw with their own eyes and heard with their own ears. This is why in the books of Hadith, the Companions often used words like “رَأَيتُ” (I saw) or “سَمِعْتُ” (I heard) when narrating Hadith. Some examples are as follows:
The kissing of the Black Stone by Sayyiduna Umar ibn Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him: Sayyiduna Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, while circumambulating the Kaaba, said to the Black Stone:
“You are just a stone that can neither harm nor benefit. If I had not seen the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, kissing you, I would never have kissed you.”
Then he kissed the Black Stone.
The Journey of Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (RA) and the Method of Prayer: During a journey, when the sun had set, Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (RA) combined Maghrib and Isha prayers and said:
“I have seen the Messenger of Allah (SAW) do the same.”
Sayyiduna Shaddad bin Aws (RA) on Ihsan (Excellence): Sayyiduna Shaddad bin Aws (RA) heard from the Messenger of Allah (SAW):
“Allah has made excellence (Ihsan) obligatory in every matter; when you kill, do it in the best manner, and when you slaughter an animal, do it in the best way.”
Sayyida Maimunah (RA) on Borrowing: Sayyida Maimunah (RA) said:
“I heard my Prophet and friend Muhammad (SAW) say that whoever borrows and intends to repay, Allah helps him to repay the debt in this world.”
The Importance of Eyewitnesses
In the four examples mentioned, the first two examples are based on observation, while the last two examples are based on hearing. This proves that what the Companions of the Prophet (may Allah be pleased with them) narrated was directly based on observation or hearing, which makes Hadith more authentic compared to history.
Adherence of the Companions to the Seerah and Hadith
The Companions of the Prophet (may Allah be pleased with them) were entrusted with the responsibility to carefully observe, understand, and then implement the Seerah of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) in their practical lives. They were bound to not only carefully observe every action of the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) but also to act upon it, so that they themselves would be imbued with the colors of those teachings.
Guidance in the Holy Quran:
Allah Almighty has stated in the Holy Quran: “لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُوا اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا”
Translation: “Indeed in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day.”
Similarly, in Surah Al-Hashr, Allah Almighty said: “وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانتَهُوا”
Translation: “Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it, and whatever he forbids you, abstain from it.”
Practical Example of the Companions:
The Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, implemented these teachings in their practical lives in such a way that they humbly submitted to every command of the Prophet, peace be upon him.
Example 1: Prayer during Travel
Once, someone asked Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, that the Quran mentions “Salat al-Khawf” and “Salat al-Hadr” (prayers during war and residence), but there is no mention of the prayer during travel.
Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, replied:
“Allah sent Muhammad, peace be upon him, as a Prophet to us, and we knew nothing. We do exactly what we saw him doing, and we also pray the travel prayer because the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, prayed this prayer while traveling.”
Example 2: Words of Tasbeeh
One day during prayer, a person said aloud:
“Allah is the Greatest, all praises are for Allah, and Allah is free from every defect.”
After the prayer, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked:
“Who is the one saying these words?”
When the person introduced himself, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“For these words, the gates of heaven have been opened.”
Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنهما said:
“Since I heard this, I have never abandoned these words.”
Love for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and Following Him
The Companions رضي الله عنهم were also commanded to convey the biography of the Prophet ﷺ to the generations that came after. This responsibility was very important, and the Prophet ﷺ himself emphasized it.
Example 1: Sanctity of Makkah
After the conquest of Makkah, the Prophet ﷺ said that Allah has declared Makkah a sanctuary, therefore it is not permissible to shed anyone’s blood or cut down trees here.
He also said:
“Those who are present here should convey this message to those who are not present.”
Example 2: Dissemination of Hadith
The Prophet ﷺ prayed:
“May Allah keep fresh the person who listens to Hadith from us, remembers it, and conveys it to others.”
Love for the Prophet ﷺ
The Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, loved the Messenger of Allah ﷺ more than their parents, children, and all worldly relationships. The Noble Prophet ﷺ said:
“None of you can be a true believer until I am dearer to him than his parents, children, and all people.”
Example: The Incident of Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه
One day Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه said to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم:
“You are dearer to me than anything else, except my own life.”
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“No, your faith cannot be complete until I become dearer to you than your own life.”
The Practical Difference Between History and Hadith
This difference was not only ideological but also a practical manifestation of reality. A prominent example of this is the Battle of Uhud, where a large part of the Islamic army had separated from the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم. One group was making sacrificial attacks on the enemy, while the other group was concerned with protecting the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم without regard for their own lives.
The Battle of Uhud
When the disbelievers surrounded the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, turned back to protect him. Leading among them were Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq, Sayyiduna Umar ibn al-Khattab, and Sayyiduna Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with them, who sacrificed their lives to protect the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him.
Delicate Moments
When the enemies surrounded the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and only nine Companions remained with him, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, called out to the Muslims:
“My companions! Come to me, I am the Messenger of Allah!”
But the polytheists heard and recognized his voice first. As a result, they attacked him. In this attack, nine devoted Companions showed unparalleled bravery in defense of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, including seven Ansari and two Muhajir Companions. These Companions fought fiercely and offered their lives as a sacrifice to protect the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him.
Sacrifice of the Devoted Companions
Sayyiduna Anas رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said to those Ansari companions:
“Who will drive the enemies away from us? For him is Paradise, or he will be my companion in Paradise.”
One Ansari companion stepped forward and was martyred fighting. Similarly, other Ansari companions continued to fight to hold back the enemies until all seven companions were martyred.
The Status of Sayyiduna Amarah bin Yazid رضي الله عنه
Among these devoted companions, the last martyr was Sayyiduna Amarah bin Yazid bin Al-Sakan رضي الله عنه, who, wounded severely, fell near the feet of the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم supported him with his feet, and he passed away in that state. This scene reflects Sayyiduna Amarah’s love for the Prophet, which has been engraved on the hearts of all, common and noble alike.
The Role of Sayyiduna Talhah and Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas رضي الله عنهم
In the critical moments of the Battle of Uhud, when the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was under severe attack, Sayyiduna Talha ibn Ubaydullah and Sayyiduna Saad ibn Abi Waqqas رضي الله عنهما stopped the attacks of the polytheists and ensured the protection of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Sayyiduna Saad ibn Abi Waqqas prevented the enemies from approaching the Prophet ﷺ with his archery skills.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ prayed for Sayyiduna Saad, saying:
“Saad! Shoot your arrows, may my parents be sacrificed for you!”
Sayyiduna Talha fought alone against eleven polytheists and risked his life to protect the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Due to this sacrifice, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه used to say:
“This entire battle was for Talha.”
Status of the Hadith and Difference from History
The Battle of Uhud and other events make it clear that the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, valued the protection of the life of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, more than their own lives. This act was not only a sign of love for the Prophet but also practically, their lives were spent in the mission of conveying the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him.
Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran:
“It is not befitting for the inhabitants of Medina and those around them who live in the villages that they should remain behind the Messenger of Allah, nor is it befitting that they should prefer their own lives over his life.”
The Responsibility and Truthfulness of Hadith
The Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, were also commanded to narrate the Hadith of the Prophet, peace be upon him, with complete honesty. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
“Whoever deliberately lies about me, let him prepare his place in Hell.”
This was the reason that the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them, were extremely cautious when narrating Hadith, and if there was any doubt about a word, they would mention both possible words.
Comparison between History and Hadith
Basis of History:
History: Often based on rumors and unverified information, which is later arranged and written based on assumptions and indications.
Hadith: Hadith is based on the statements of eyewitnesses who themselves spent time with the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and observed his words and actions. For example, Sayyiduna Anas, Sayyiduna Abu Huraira, and Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with them.
Relation of the Historian:
History: The historian has no personal relationship with the subject whose history he is writing.
Hadith: The Muhaddithin (Hadith scholars) have a deep heartfelt connection with the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and their love and obedience are an important part of the authenticity of their narrations.
Role of the Narrator:
History: In history, the personal character of the historian is not given much importance.
Hadith: For the authenticity of a hadith, it is necessary that the narrator be trustworthy and just, and the character of the narrator is given primary importance.
Scope:
History: Describes events of a specific country or region during a particular period.
Hadith: Hadith pertains to all humanity and is relevant until the Day of Judgment.
Central Figure:
History: Often history revolves around a ruler or a governmental institution.
Hadith: In hadith, the blessed personality of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the sole center, and his sayings and actions are the main subject.
Research Sources:
History: Often one or two historians write history, who may also be under a governmental institution.
Hadith: The early narrators of hadith numbered in the thousands, who spent their entire lives verifying the authenticity of each hadith.
Possibility of Research Errors:
History: Since the number of historians is limited and the research is extensive, the possibility of errors is higher.
Hadith: The number of hadith scholars is very large, and since the scope of research is limited only to the blessed person of the Prophet ﷺ, the possibility of error remains very low.
Explanation of Sources:
History: It is not necessary for a historian to clarify the sources of his material.
Hadith: It is necessary for hadith scholars to mention all the narrators and sources of each hadith, and it is also essential that these narrators are trustworthy.
Field of History:
History: Mostly based on the political conditions of a region and implicitly includes civilization and culture.
Hadith: Hadith encompasses every aspect of life, whether social, ethical, or matters of private life.
Tendencies of the Historian:
History: The personal and national biases of historians can influence history, and history is often distorted and presented according to specific ideologies.
Hadith: Due to the extensive research among hadith scholars, such biases are eliminated, and scholars from different countries and languages participate in examining the same hadith.
No restriction on misrepresentation:
History: Historians are free to express their opinions, and there are no significant restrictions on misrepresentation.
Hadith: Severe warnings are given against misrepresentation in hadith, and those who fabricate lies are threatened with Hell.
Compensation and sincerity:
History: Historians and institutions receive payment for writing history, and governments spend large sums on historiography.
Hadith: Hadith scholars devoted their entire lives and wealth to collecting and researching hadith, and they did not seek any financial gain from this work.
Comparison of Hadith and Gospels
The standard and caution in hadith are far higher than the standards of any religious or historical book in the world. The narrators of the Gospels were only four, and they themselves did not write down the Gospels. Their disciples who came later compiled them. There is no mention of a chain of transmission, nor is there any standard of narration and criticism. The Torah was also received by the nation of Moses in written form, but these books were lost twice and later rewritten.
The Miracle of Hadith
The preservation of the Hadith and the biography of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was not merely coincidental; rather, behind it was the help of Allah Almighty. Allah granted these pure and pious narrators such mental and physical abilities through which they preserved this precious treasure of religion for future generations.
Summary of the Topic
The comparison between history and hadith makes it clear that there is a significant difference in their purposes, methodologies, and standards. History is generally based on rumors and conjectures, where the historian has no personal connection with the subject, and there is no perceived need to scrutinize the character of the source. In contrast, hadith is the collection of the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad preserved through the testimonies of eyewitnesses and with the utmost caution and integrity of the narrators.
The content of hadith provides guidance for all humanity until the Day of Judgment, and thousands of hadith scholars sacrificed their lives and wealth in its research to keep the Sunnah of the Prophet pure and preserved. It was essential for the hadith scholars to examine their sources and narrations with extreme precision and care, whereas such standards are not found in historical writing.
In the end, it is proven that Hadith is a unique and sacred repository unmatched by any other book in the world. Behind its preservation is the help of Allah Almighty and the efforts of the Muhaddithin, and for this reason, the status of Hadith is exalted and sacred throughout history.
