A comprehensive journey through the treasures of the purified Prophetic Sunnah, combining scholarly authenticity with modern technology
In Islamic terminology, Sunnah refers to everything that was transmitted from the Prophet ﷺ in terms of sayings, actions, approvals, or physical and moral characteristics. It is the second source of legislation after the Noble Quran.
Allah says: {Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination. It is not but a revelation revealed} (Surah An-Najm 53:3-4). The Prophet ﷺ said: "I have been given the Quran and something like it with it." It is a binding proof that must be followed.
Allah has raised for this Ummah distinguished scholars who preserved the Prophetic Sunnah, distinguished its authentic from its weak, through a precise methodology of criticism and validation (Al-Jarh wa Al-Ta'dil).
I leave among you that which if you hold fast to it, you will never go astray after me: the Book of Allah, and my household (Ahl al-Bayt)
Everything the Prophet ﷺ said on various occasions, such as: "Actions are but by intentions" and "Religion is sincere advice." This is the most abundant type of Sunnah.
What the Prophet ﷺ did, such as his prayer, fasting, and pilgrimage, which demonstrate how acts of worship and transactions are performed. This is the practical model of Islam.
The Prophet's ﷺ silence regarding an action done in his presence or that he learned about, such as his approval of some companions' actions. This indicates permissibility.
Numbers are approximate and vary depending on counting method
The science that studies the principles and rules for distinguishing acceptable hadiths from rejected ones, and understanding hadith grades and types.
The science that studies the biographies of hadith narrators and their conditions.
The science that studies the conditions of narrators regarding the acceptance or rejection of their narrations.
The Imam of Imams in Jarh and Ta'dil
The Imam of Ahl al-Sunnah in Jarh and Ta'dil
One of the Imams of Jarh and Ta'dil
An Imam in the knowledge of narrators
| Book | Author: | الوصف |
|---|---|---|
| Muqaddimah Ibn al-Salah | Ibn al-Salah al-Shahrazuri (d. 643 AH) | The most famous book on hadith sciences |
| Nukhbat al-Fikr | Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (d. 852 AH) | A concise text on hadith terminology |
| Tadrib al-Rawi | Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti (d. 911 AH) | An explanation and clarification of Muqaddimah Ibn al-Salah |
| Al-Ba'ith al-Hathith | Ahmad Shakir (d. 1377 AH) | A concise explanation of hadith sciences |
| Book | Number of Hadiths (with repetition) | Number of Hadiths (without repetition) | Grade of Hadiths | Number of Books (Chapters) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sahih al-Bukhari | 7,563 | ~2,600 | Sahih | 97 Books |
| Sahih Muslim | 7,500 | ~2,200 | Sahih | 54 Books |
| Sunan Abi Dawud | 5,274 | ~4,800 | Hasan and Sahih | 37 Books |
| Jami at-Tirmidhi | 3,956 | ~3,800 | Hasan and Sahih | 46 Books |
| Sunan an-Nasai | 5,761 | ~5,300 | Sahih | 51 Books |
| Sunan Ibn Majah | 4,341 | ~4,000 | Hasan and Sahih | 37 Books |
Numbers are approximate. Apart from the two Sahihs, other books contain hadiths of varying grades (sahih, hasan, and daif).
Author:: Muhammad ibn Isma'il al-Bukhari (194-256 AH)
Total Hadiths: 7,563 (With Repetition)
~ Without Repetition:: ~2,600
The most authentic compiled book of hadith
Author:: Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj al-Naysaburi (204-261 AH)
Total Hadiths: 7,500 (With Repetition)
~ Without Repetition:: ~2,200
The second most authentic book after Sahih al-Bukhari
Author:: Sulayman ibn al-Ash'ath al-Sijistani (202-275 AH)
Total Hadiths: 5,274 (With Repetition)
~ Without Repetition:: ~4,800
Author of Sunan Abi Dawud, one of the four Sunan
Author:: Muhammad ibn Isa al-Tirmidhi (209-279 AH)
Total Hadiths: 3,956 (With Repetition)
~ Without Repetition:: ~3,800
Known for mentioning the views of jurists and the defects of hadiths
Author:: Ahmad ibn Shu'ayb al-Nasai (215-303 AH)
Total Hadiths: 5,761 (With Repetition)
~ Without Repetition:: ~5,300
The Sunan with the fewest weak hadiths
Author:: Muhammad ibn Yazid al-Qazwini (209-273 AH)
Total Hadiths: 4,341 (With Repetition)
~ Without Repetition:: ~4,000
Known for its chapters on asceticism and heart-softening
Author:: Ahmad ibn Hanbal (164-241 AH)
Total Hadiths: 26,069 (With Repetition)
~ Without Repetition:: ~10,000
The largest and most famous Musnad
Author:: Malik ibn Anas (93-179 AH)
Total Hadiths: 1,720 (With Repetition)
~ Without Repetition:: ~1,600
The first and most famous compiled book of hadith
Number of Chapters: 60 | Number of Hadiths: 822
Number of Chapters: 30 | Number of Hadiths: 450
Number of Chapters: 40 | Number of Hadiths: 600
Number of Chapters: 50 | Number of Hadiths: 750
Number of Chapters: 80 | Number of Hadiths: 1,200
Number of Chapters: 35 | Number of Hadiths: 500
Number of Chapters: 25 | Number of Hadiths: 400
Number of Chapters: 45 | Number of Hadiths: 650
Number of Chapters: 55 | Number of Hadiths: 850
Number of Chapters: 40 | Number of Hadiths: 700
Number of Chapters: 30 | Number of Hadiths: 450
Number of Chapters: 20 | Number of Hadiths: 300
Number of Chapters: 35 | Number of Hadiths: 550
Number of Chapters: 25 | Number of Hadiths: 380
Number of Chapters: 30 | Number of Hadiths: 420
Those who met the Prophet ﷺ, believed in him, and died as Muslims
Those who met the Companions and believed in them
1st Century AH
Those who met the Followers and learned from them
2nd Century AH
Compilers of the Six Books and Imams of Hadith
3rd Century AH
The most famous and greatest commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari
Comprehensive commentary
Medium commentary
The most famous commentary on Sahih Muslim
Among the earliest commentaries
Important commentary
The most famous commentary on Sunan Abi Dawud
The most famous commentary on Jami at-Tirmidhi
Concise commentary