the Hadith Collections ⓘ

BSahih al-Bukhari

According to Islamic tradition, this hadith collection was compiled over the course of 16 years by al-Bukhārī, a native of Bukhara in modern-day Uzbekistan (810-870 AD). It is suggested that Bukhari was an early advocate of investigating chains of narration (isnad) to establish the genuineness of a report, and he supposedly investigated 600,000 hadith reports, of which only 7,397 were accepted as authentic. Partly owing to his proximity to the time of Muhammad (d.632 AD) and the care with which he gathered reports, Bukhari's collection is seen by a large majority of Muslims as the greatest of all hadith collections. As well as being foremost among the books of the Sunni canon (Kutub al-Sittah, 'the six books'), this collection is one of only two given the honorific descriptor, 'sahih' (authentic). »

MSahih Muslim

According to Islamic tradition, this hadith collection was compiled by Muslim ibn al-Ḥajjāj (817-875 AD), a native of Nīshāpūr in modern-day Iran. It is claimed that Muslim's collection was compiled after investigation of 300,000 traditions across Arabia, Egypt, Syria and Iraq. Like al-Bukhārī, he provided full accounts of chains of narration (isnad) for each report. As well as being numbered among the books of the Sunni canon (Kutub al-Sittah), this collection is one of only two given the honorific descriptor, 'sahih' (authentic). »

NSunan an-Nasa'i

Also known as Sunan al-Sughra or Al-Mutjaba ('the selected'). According to Islamic tradition, this hadith collection was compiled by Al-Nasa'i (829-915 AD), a native of Nasā in modern-day Turkmenistan. This collection contains 5,270 hadith reports. It ranks just below 'the two sahihs' (Bukhari and Muslim) in the collections of the Sunni canon (Kutub al-Sittah). »

ASunan Abi Dawud

According to Islamic tradition, this hadith collection was compiled by Abu Dawud al-Sijistani (d.889 AD), a native of Basra in modern-day Iraq. This collection of 4,008 hadith reports is supposedly compiled from an investigation of 500,000 reports. It usually ranks fourth, just below 'the two sahihs' (Bukhari and Muslim) and Sunan An-Nasa'i, among the collections of the Sunni canon (Kutub al-Sittah). »

TJami` at-Tirmidhi

According to Islamic tradition, this hadith collection was compiled by al-Tirmidhi (824-892 AD), a native of Temez in modern-day Uzbekistan. This collection contains 4,400 hadith reports. It usually ranks fifth among the collections of the Sunni canon (Kutub al-Sittah). »

ISunan Ibn Majah

According to Islamic tradition, this hadith collection was compiled by Ibn Majah (824-887 AD), a native of Qazvin in modern-day Iran. The collection contains 4,341 hadith reports. Since the 11th century it has been counted among the six books of the Sunni canon (Kutub al-Sittah), though some early Islamic scholars rejected its inclusion. It usually ranks sixth among the collections of the Sunni canon (Kutub al-Sittah). »

MMuwatta Malik

According to Islamic tradition, this hadith collection was compiled by Muwatta Imam Malik ibn Anas (711-795 AD), a native of Medina in modern-day Saudi Arabia. Traditionally, this collection contains 1,7250 hadith reports, compiled over forty years, based on the examination of over 100,000 narrations. Its title (muwatta) reflects its being 'easy for the people.' This is regarded as the earliest hadith collection, but unusually combines sayings of the Prophet (Marfūʿ) with sayings of his companions (Mawquf) and of successors (maqtu‘). This collection was compiled at the request of Caliph al-Mansur (714-775) to provide an authoritative collection and resolve disputes between competing Islamic factions. Imam Al Shafi`i (d.820) said of this collection, "there is not on the face of the earth a book – after the Book of Allah – which is more authentic than the book of Malik. »

SRiyad as-Salihin

Also known as 'The Meadows of the Righteous'. According to Islamic tradition, this hadith collection was compiled by Imam Al-Nawawi (1233-1277 AD), a native of Damascus in modern-day Syria. It is well-regarded by Salafists and the influential Tablighi Jamaat movement. This collection contains 1,896 hadith reports, with many introduced by related verses from the Qur'an. »

AAl-Adab Al-Mufrad

According to Islamic tradition, this hadith collection was compiled by al-Bukhārī, the foremost of hadith scholars and a native of Bukhara in modern-day Uzbekistan (810-870 AD). This collection contains 1,322 hadith reports. It is a thematic collection specifically concerned with hadiths which relate to good manners for Muslims. Sunni clerics generally view the collection as authentic and authoritative. »

SAsh-Shama'il Al-Muhammadiyah

Also known as 'The Sublime Qualities of Muhammad'. According to Islamic tradition, this hadith collection was compiled by Imam Al-Tirmidhi (824-892 AD), a native of Termez in modern-day Uzbekistan and compiler of one of the 'six books' of Sunni canon. It is a thematic collection of trusted hadiths which relate to the person, appearance and conduct of Muhammad. This collection is sometimes included as an appendix to Jami' al-Tirmidhi. »

MBulugh al-Maram

Also known as Ahadith al-Akham, this hadith collection forms a foundation for the Shafi'i school of Islamic law, and translates as 'Attainment of the Objective According to Evidences of the Ordinances.' This hadith collection was compiled by al-Hafidh ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (1372-1449), a native of Cairo in modern-day Egypt. It is widely used by Sunni Muslims, and draws on various hadith collections of the Sunni canon, and other collections such as Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal. »