Hadith (plural: Ahadith): literally means a saying or a statement. It refers to statements (or narrations) that are attributed to Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ/peace be upon him). These include:
- what the Prophet ﷺ said (his statements)
- What he ﷺ did (his actions), and
- what was done by others (around him) and he accepted that action.
The ahadith have been narrated by the Prophet's ﷺ companions and have reached us through individual, reliable narrator(s) in every generation. The authenticity of a hadith is derived from the narrators (the criteria includes whether they were trustworthy, honest, had good memory).
Sunnah (plural: sunanah): literally meaning a path, method or way, contain the religious practices that are established by the Prophet ﷺ. The (authentic) ahadith help to establish and provide evidence for the sunnah.
The established and authentic sunnah are as reliable as the Qur’aan. Therefore, the Qur’aan and the Sunnah remain our two primary sources of understanding Islam.
And Allah knows best.
Are you looking for Ahadith and Sunnah collection for adults? You can find it here.
