❀ Understanding Hadith Literature and Preventing Misguidance in the Public ❀
Written by: Mawlānā Ṭalḥah al-Saif
It is well-known among scholars that Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, and other major collections of Hadith were not compiled for the general public, but rather:
◉ To fulfill various technical objectives within the science of ḥadīth.
① Strength of chains (isnād):
② Completeness of text (matn):
③ Comprehensive gathering:
✔ Known as “Aṣaḥḥ al-Kutub” after the Qur’an due to its rigorous criteria
✔ Imam Bukhārī not only transmitted ḥadīths but also derived rulings and legal insights
✔ Often, he mentions only a relevant portion of a ḥadīth to support a chapter heading
✔ The arrangement of narrations follows juridical reasoning, not chronological order
Due to a lack of awareness of this methodology, lay readers often misunderstand texts.
Example:
A person on Facebook misrepresented a narration about the Prophet ﷺ and Jūniyah by quoting only what Imam Bukhārī selected for a legal point—mistaking it as the full event.
Different muḥaddithīn compiled ḥadīth collections with varied purposes:
◉ Complete matn collections
◉ Focus on chains and parallel narrations (aṭrāf and mutābaʿāt)
◉ Unfiltered narration collections for academic purposes
In the introduction to his Ṣaḥīḥ, Imam Muslim explains:
✔ Some compilations focus only on isnād
✔ Others focus on matn (text)
✔ Still others gather everything available, for reference by well-grounded scholars
◉ The general public was meant to access simple and motivational narrations, such as those related to:
◉ Jurisprudential ḥadīths were compiled into practical rulings by fuqahā’, so that the public would not be burdened with complex issues.
Muḥaddithīn themselves recognized the role of jurists (fuqahāʾ):
“Our example is that of an herbalist; yours is that of a physician.”
This statement shows the distinction:
“Narrate to the people what they can understand, not what confuses them.”
“Narrating difficult-to-understand ḥadīths to the public can become a source of fitnah (trial).”
✔ While ḥadīths remained within scholarly circles, there was little risk of misguidance.
But today, full translations of complex hadith books have been made available to the public—
→ who lack the training to understand nuances, resolve contradictions, or know abrogated (nāsikh–mansūkh) rulings.
Some educated individuals began:
➡ These individuals lack expertise in:
Platforms like Facebook have amplified this issue:
When complex or controversial issues are presented to those unfamiliar with even basic Islamic rulings, it leads to confusion, doubt, and deviation.
Anyone truly wishing to understand detailed hadith sciences must first learn their foundational principles.
Written by: Mawlānā Ṭalḥah al-Saif
✿ Purpose Behind Hadith Compilations Like Ṣaḥīḥayn
It is well-known among scholars that Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, and other major collections of Hadith were not compiled for the general public, but rather:
◉ To fulfill various technical objectives within the science of ḥadīth.
These include:
① Strength of chains (isnād):
- Example: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī emphasizes the strictest standards for chain authentication.
② Completeness of text (matn):
- Some works focus on full narration for clarity.
③ Comprehensive gathering:
- Some collections compile all kinds of narrations, regardless of chain strength, for cross-reference and comparison.
✿ Characteristics of Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī
✔ Known as “Aṣaḥḥ al-Kutub” after the Qur’an due to its rigorous criteria
✔ Imam Bukhārī not only transmitted ḥadīths but also derived rulings and legal insights
✔ Often, he mentions only a relevant portion of a ḥadīth to support a chapter heading
✔ The arrangement of narrations follows juridical reasoning, not chronological order
⚠ Public Misunderstandings:
Due to a lack of awareness of this methodology, lay readers often misunderstand texts.
Example:
A person on Facebook misrepresented a narration about the Prophet ﷺ and Jūniyah by quoting only what Imam Bukhārī selected for a legal point—mistaking it as the full event.
✿ Hadith Scholars and Their Methodologies
Different muḥaddithīn compiled ḥadīth collections with varied purposes:
◉ Complete matn collections
◉ Focus on chains and parallel narrations (aṭrāf and mutābaʿāt)
◉ Unfiltered narration collections for academic purposes
✿ Clarification by Imam Muslim
In the introduction to his Ṣaḥīḥ, Imam Muslim explains:
✔ Some compilations focus only on isnād
✔ Others focus on matn (text)
✔ Still others gather everything available, for reference by well-grounded scholars
✔ Who should engage with which texts?
- Advanced scholars: Capable of dealing with all kinds of texts due to their knowledge of ḥadīth principles
- Public and non-specialist scholars: Should only study authenticated and simplified narrations, due to risk of misinterpretation
✿ Hadith Literature for the Public
◉ The general public was meant to access simple and motivational narrations, such as those related to:
- Virtue and warning (Targhīb wa Tarhīb)
- Basic manners and morals
◉ Jurisprudential ḥadīths were compiled into practical rulings by fuqahā’, so that the public would not be burdened with complex issues.
✿ Acknowledgment by Hadith Scholars
Muḥaddithīn themselves recognized the role of jurists (fuqahāʾ):
“Our example is that of an herbalist; yours is that of a physician.”
This statement shows the distinction:
- Muḥaddith: Gathers raw material (ḥadīths)
- Faqīh: Prescribes rulings and solutions based on them
✿ Principles for Sharing Hadith and Root of Confusion
⚠ Imam Bukhārī quoted ʿAlī رضي الله عنه:
“Narrate to the people what they can understand, not what confuses them.”
⚠ Imam Muslim quoted Ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه:
“Narrating difficult-to-understand ḥadīths to the public can become a source of fitnah (trial).”
✿ Consequences of Public Misunderstanding
✔ While ḥadīths remained within scholarly circles, there was little risk of misguidance.
But today, full translations of complex hadith books have been made available to the public—→ who lack the training to understand nuances, resolve contradictions, or know abrogated (nāsikh–mansūkh) rulings.
✿ Rise of Hadith Denial
Some educated individuals began:
- Interpreting ḥadīths based on limited logic
- Declaring them irrational or contradictory to the Qur’an
- Eventually falling into the trap of rejecting hadith altogether
➡ These individuals lack expertise in:
- Hadith sciences
- Arabic language
- Arab cultural context
✿ Social Media & Public Misuse
Platforms like Facebook have amplified this issue:
- Laymen now engage in debates on complex ḥadīth topics
- It's equivalent to someone debating medical science with no background in medicine
✿ Solutions and Recommendations
Knowledge Boundaries:
- Present only basic and ethical ḥadīths to the public
- Complex issues must be approached only after mastering:
- Uṣūl al-Ḥadīth (Principles of Hadith)
- Nāsikh wa Mansūkh (Abrogation)
- Taʿāruḍ wa Taṭbīq (Reconciliation)
Roles of Scholars and Public
- Scholars must present knowledge appropriately, in line with the audience’s level
- The public must seek guidance on matters beyond their understanding rather than drawing personal conclusions
Use of Facebook & Online Platforms
- Social media can serve as a beneficial platform for knowledge, but with guidelines
- Laypeople should ask scholars what is relevant
- Scholars must confine technical discussions to appropriate circles
✿ Harm to the Ummah
When complex or controversial issues are presented to those unfamiliar with even basic Islamic rulings, it leads to confusion, doubt, and deviation. Anyone truly wishing to understand detailed hadith sciences must first learn their foundational principles.