Ahaadeeth
Ahaadeeth is the plural of Hadeeth. A Hadeeth is a saying of the prophet (Muhammad (pbuh)).
For example, here is a simple hadeeth with a clear meaning.
None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.
Since the messenger of Allah did not know how to read or write, the companions who were close to him recorded almost everything he said and did during his life as a prophet and a messenger.
Sometimes, the actions of the prophet are included in the ahaadeeth but generally, the actions of the prophet are termed “Sunnah” (the traditions of the prophet).
There are thousands upon thousands of ahaadeeth recorded and there are volumes of books containing the sayings of the prophet of Allah. The most famous of these books is names “Sahih al Bukhari” since it was compiled by a pious man named Bukhar.
Generally, when a hadeeth is quoted, it includes the narration and the chain of narration all the way back to the prophet (pbuh).
Here is an example of a chain…
Malik, who narrated from Nafi’, who narrated from ibn Umar, who narrated from Muhammad (pbuh).
All the people recorded in the chain of narration had to have been extremely trustworthy and reliable.
Muslims use the ahaadeeth as the secondary source of guidance after the Holy Quran.
Generally, you will find deeper explanations of the Quranic verses within the ahaadeeth.
The ahaadeeth of the prophet covers almost every aspect of life, hence which is why Islam is a complete way of life rather than just a religion.
Muslims abide by the teachings contained within the ahaadeeth every day of their lives. The ahaadeeth is integral to the benefit of mankind.
Whenever one needs guidance, first he refers to the Quran and if he does not find it there (or needs further elaboration), then he refers to the ahaadeeth.
The sunnah (the actions (traditions) of the prophet go hand in hand with the ahaadeeth and so we will discuss this next.
