Muslims from the beginning paid great care to the Sunnah of the prophet (PBUH). They used to listen to his guidance and instructions with concentration so that they could explain to others what they have heard from the prophet (PBUH) in the way he had instructed. One of his saying was Allah blesses one who has heard my speech and kept it carefully and passed it to others as he had heard it from me.
After the first generation that lived with the prophet (PBUH) the next generation also gave great care to the Sunnah of the prophet (PBUH). Each one tried to find out what the prophet (PBUH) had said and to transmit it. The sayings of the prophet (PBUH)
On all subjects were like a shining light and guidance to people. They gathered round those who had heard the prophet (PBUH) speaking so as to receive guidance from them. Thus a group of people was established in the Muslim community who were known as transmitters (Muhaddithun).
From the very beginning the companions of the prophet (PBUH) were extremely eager to know what the prophet (PBUH) had done and said so that they could follow his example and injunctions. After his death when Islam spread far and wide new Muslimism was also eager to hear all about him and to follow his example. His companions were listened to eagerly and in the course of time a great amount of material concerning the prophet (PBUH) became current. While this was conveyed largely orally, some persons mad small collections of these traditions for their own use.
When Muslim scholars discovered this they set up rules for the study of Sunnah and other branches of knowledge. Also a study was established to deal with the people who transmitted the sayings of the prophet (PBUH) so as to find out about them particularly their honesty and trustworthiness, their ability to think clearly and whether in fact they had actually met the people from whom they said they had received the Sunnah. As a result of these inquiries many people failed to pass the test.
Thus a new science in Islam was established known as Ilm al-rijal (the knowledge of the morality of the people). The names of the transmitters, the date of their birth and death and the names of their teachers from whom they received the Sunnah the places where they had gone their general character belief and attitude towers others were all studied. They would then examine what a man said and heard from other people. If they believed that all this was acceptable they could give a decision saying that his authority with regard to the Sunnah could be accepted.
In the second century of Islam, Muslim scholars made a study of collecting the sayings of the prophet
(PBUH) and later on at the end of the second century and at the beginning of the third the school of Hadith gave us well known scholars as Al Bukhari, Muslim,
Al Tirmithi and others.
The most authoritative books of Hadith are the following two:
1- the sahih of Bukhari (194-256A.H) AND
2- the sahih of Muslim (202-261A.H). the work of Bukhari is considered superior in its method of classification. In addition. Four other books are also recognized as authoritative completing "the Accurate six" books of Hadith. These are the Sunnah of
3- Abu Dawd (202-275A.H)
4- Al- Tirmithi (died 279A.H)
5- Al- nisai (215-303A.H) and
6- Ibn Majah(209-273A.H)
After the first generation that lived with the prophet (PBUH) the next generation also gave great care to the Sunnah of the prophet (PBUH). Each one tried to find out what the prophet (PBUH) had said and to transmit it. The sayings of the prophet (PBUH)
On all subjects were like a shining light and guidance to people. They gathered round those who had heard the prophet (PBUH) speaking so as to receive guidance from them. Thus a group of people was established in the Muslim community who were known as transmitters (Muhaddithun).
From the very beginning the companions of the prophet (PBUH) were extremely eager to know what the prophet (PBUH) had done and said so that they could follow his example and injunctions. After his death when Islam spread far and wide new Muslimism was also eager to hear all about him and to follow his example. His companions were listened to eagerly and in the course of time a great amount of material concerning the prophet (PBUH) became current. While this was conveyed largely orally, some persons mad small collections of these traditions for their own use.
When Muslim scholars discovered this they set up rules for the study of Sunnah and other branches of knowledge. Also a study was established to deal with the people who transmitted the sayings of the prophet (PBUH) so as to find out about them particularly their honesty and trustworthiness, their ability to think clearly and whether in fact they had actually met the people from whom they said they had received the Sunnah. As a result of these inquiries many people failed to pass the test.
Thus a new science in Islam was established known as Ilm al-rijal (the knowledge of the morality of the people). The names of the transmitters, the date of their birth and death and the names of their teachers from whom they received the Sunnah the places where they had gone their general character belief and attitude towers others were all studied. They would then examine what a man said and heard from other people. If they believed that all this was acceptable they could give a decision saying that his authority with regard to the Sunnah could be accepted.
In the second century of Islam, Muslim scholars made a study of collecting the sayings of the prophet
(PBUH) and later on at the end of the second century and at the beginning of the third the school of Hadith gave us well known scholars as Al Bukhari, Muslim,
Al Tirmithi and others.
The most authoritative books of Hadith are the following two:
1- the sahih of Bukhari (194-256A.H) AND
2- the sahih of Muslim (202-261A.H). the work of Bukhari is considered superior in its method of classification. In addition. Four other books are also recognized as authoritative completing "the Accurate six" books of Hadith. These are the Sunnah of
3- Abu Dawd (202-275A.H)
4- Al- Tirmithi (died 279A.H)
5- Al- nisai (215-303A.H) and
6- Ibn Majah(209-273A.H)