Hadith
For many Muslims, their faith is shaped by both the Quran and the Hadith as key sources of guidance.
While the Quran is regarded as the direct word of Allah, the Hadith— alleged accounts of the sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad—are often treated as a necessary companion to the Quran. But does the Quran itself support this idea? Should Muslims rely on hadith as part of their faith?
Let’s explore this question through the lens of the Quran and its use of the term "hadith".
What does "Hadith" mean?
The word hadith حديث comes from the Arabic root ḥ-d-th حدث, meaning "to speak," "to tell," or "to narrate." According to Lane’s Lexicon, ḥadith refers to " an account, a story, a narrative, etc.
The word "hadith" is mentioned approximately 23 times in the Quran, but never in the context of being a divinely ordained secondary source of law.
Instead, the Quran uses the term hadith to describe:
- Stories
Has the story (hadith) of Musa come to you? 20:9
Have you heard the story (hadith) of the honoured guests of Ibrahim? 51:24
- The Quran itself as the best "hadith"
And who is more truthful than God in account(hadith)? 4:87
There is a lesson in the stories of such people for those who understand. This account (hadith) is no fabrication: it is a confirmation of the truth of what was sent before it; an explanation of everything; a guide and a blessing for those who believe. 12:111
Allah has sent down the best account (hadith). 39:23
- Warnings against following other "hadith" besides the Quran
And in what narration (hadith) after this will they believe? 7:185
And among men is he who purchases the diversion of narration (hadith) to lead astray from the path of God without knowledge, and takes it in mockery: those have a humiliating punishment. 31:6
Those are the signs of God; We recite them to you in truth. Then in what narration (hadith) after God and His signs will they believe? 45:6
Then let them produce a narrative (hadith) like it, if they be truthful. 52:34
In what narration (hadith), after this, will they believe? 77:50
Hadith Literature: A Human Effort
The process of compiling hadith was far from divine. It relied on oral transmissions passed through multiple generations. Each hadith is accompanied by a chain of narrators (isnad) that can allegedly be traced back to the Prophet.
Here’s an example of a typical hadith structure:
It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin 'Umar, that his father said: The Prophet said, 'Whoever does such and such...'"_
Notice the reliance on hearsay?
Even prominent hadith collectors like Bukhari reportedly sifted through hundreds of thousands of narrations, discarding the vast majority as fabrications.
A decision based on the Quran
Ultimately, i invite you to reflect deeply on these questions:
- Does the Quran call for reliance on hadith?
- Can something as uncertain as hearsay stand alongside the Quran as a source of divine guidance?
