A Simple Guide to ISLAM
Hadith – Traditions
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HADITH – TRADITIONS
Hadith meaning a ‘statement’ or ‘report’ is used as an Islamic term
for the records kept of the words, deeds and sanctions of the
Prophet Muhammad. Some scholars have also included in hadith
the sayings and doings of the companions of the Prophet.
THE NECESSITY OF HADITH
The hadith provides the second fundamental source of Islam,
giving us a full account of the life of the Prophet, and serving as a
commentary of the Qur’an.
The Qur’an principally deals with basics. It is the hadith which
gives the details and necessary explanations of Quranic injunctions.
For instance, the Qur’an says: “Establish the service of worship.”
But it does not specify how the worship has to be performed. Not
even the timings and
raka‘a
(units of prayers) are clearly
mentioned. We need the traditions to have full information on this.
Even after knowing the details, it may not be possible to follow the
divine injunctions contained in the Qur’an. For not everything can
be properly understood by words alone. Therefore God’s Prophet
demonstrated before the faithful how the service of worship was to
be performed. He said to the believers: “Look at me, see how I
worship, and follow me.”
Thus the Prophet, as well as teaching the divine injunctions to the
believers theoretically, also put these teachings into practice in all
matters pertaining to religion . He himself practised the divine
