The hadith are a collection of comments and actions attributed to the prophet of Islam, Muhammad (Peace be upon him). Roughly translated, “hadith” means “statement.”

Believers are meant to follow the one eternal sunnah as described here, and towards this end many today use these hadith to get a glimpse of how the prophet reportedly conducted himself and the things he said and approved of. Therefore many Muslims regard the hadith as a second line of instructions of Islam after the Quran. In a lot of sermons today, hadith is typically referenced predominantly with the Quran taking backstage.

Indeed a verse in the glorious Qur’an actually predicts the scenario facing the prophet’s very Ummah today:

‘And the Messenger has said, “O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Qur’an as [a thing] abandoned.”‘

Qur’an 25:30

Hadith contain lots of amazing and beautiful instructions and advice on the best religious conduct, on naturopathic medicine, history and even predictions of the future, but also within the volumes are some information that have been regarded as not too safe and not quite reliable. Hence there is some controversy about its role and applicability in Islam.

Controversy

Some Muslims and scholars including the likes of well revered personalities like Abu Hanifa, have questioned the safe and broad applicability of the hadith in Islam due to apparent errors and contradictions that have remained despite several historic scholarly attempts at its authentication. Unlike the Quran which is central to Islam and Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ promised He shall protect, the hadith, like the Bible was compiled hundreds of years after the prophet died and is not divinely protected.

Perhaps the most noticeable recent critic of hadith is the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Muhammed Bin Salman who recently stated that only few hadith are mutawattir or solidly backed by blocks of transmission chains and hence useful in the law of the Saudi kingdom.

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With the advent of the internet and globally accessible search tools, more contradictions are noticed in hadith by lay Muslims and noticeable numbers are challenging the central scholars.

Often times hadith themselves are presented to challenge the safety of a blind belief in hadith without individual scrutiny of each statement based on its agreeability with the Quran, shariah and reason. They argue that the best refutal of an item is the item itself.

The Prophet Was Afraid of People Writing Lies

Often cited is the prophet himself’s narrated ban on writing hadith where he cited his fear of people including lies:

Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Do not write down anything from me, and he who wrote down anything from me except the Qur’an, he should erase it. But, narrate from me, for there is nothing wrong in doing so. Whoever attributes any falsehood to me – Hammām said: I think he also said ‘deliberately’ – let him occupy his seat in Hellfire.”

Muslim 3004

Abu Said al-Khudri said, Ishaq ibn Isa told me that Abdul Rahman ibn Zaid told us that his father said about Ata ibn Yasar who said that Abu Hurayrah said: We were sitting down writing what we heard from the prophet. He entered the room and asked us: What are you writing? We said: We are writing what we hear from you. He said: Another book next to the book of Allah? We said: It is what we hear from you. He said: Then write the book of Allah, uphold the book of Allah, no other books but the book of Allah, uphold the book of Allah. Abu Hurayrah said: So we collected all that we wrote and burnt it. Then we asked the prophet: Can we talk about you? He said: Yes you can and feel no shame of it, and whoever lies about me deliberately his seat in hell will be secured. Abu Hurayrah said: Can we talk about Bani Israel? He said: Yes you can and feel no shame of it…

Musnad Ahmad, Hadith Number 10611

Of course the risk of written and published books is obvious. Whereas, with narrations people may ponder and strive to confirm what is told, once something is written and canonized in a book, people tend to believe and act upon it more as authentic.

A Temporary Writing Ban?

Hadith proponents argue that the prophet only banned writing hadith at a point so it will not mix up with the Quran while it was being revealed, and later permitted it, citing a incident where he allowed a man write some data; but opponents to this idea argue that even on the prophet’s dying bed, much after the Quran was completed, his closest companions still stood on the hadith-writing ban and saying “Hasbuna Kitab Allah,” ‘sufficient is Allah’s Quran,’ and denied him (the Prophet himself) write one important statement he wished to, according to the narration.

Companions Insisted “Hasbuna Kitab Allah” on His Death Bed

Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas:

When the time of the death of the Prophet approached while there were some men in the house, and among them was ‘Umar Ibn al-Khatttab, the Prophet said: “Come near let me write for you a writing after which you will never go astray.” ‘Umar said: “The Prophet is seriously ill, you have the Qur’an, so Allah’s Book is sufficient for us.” The people in the house differed and disputed. Some of them said, “Come near so that Allah’s Apostle may write for you a writing after which you will not go astray,” while the others said what ‘Umar said. When they made much noise and quarreled greatly in front of the Prophet, he said to them, “Go away and leave me.”Ibn ‘Abbas used to say, “It was a great disaster that their quarrel and noise prevented Allah’s Apostle from writing a statement (hadith) for them.

Bukhari Hadiths: 9.468 and 7.573

It is also well known that the first four caliphs in Islam prohibited the writing of hadith, hence its collection and compilation about two centuries after the prophet’s death.

Many Companions and Next Generation Insisted on Hadith Writing Ban – IslamQA

Importantly, IslamQA, a foremost salafi Muslim website notes that even the sahaaba (companions of the prophet) and taabi’u’een (second generation) debated on whether or not to write hadith.

The statement concludes that this debate is no longer an issue. But the fact that it existed among the best generations proves the prominence on the hadith writing ban in early Islam.

Hadith can be searched here, Sunnah.com, but we advice a responsible and controlled approach to the use of hadith. It must never be put above Quran and never contradict the Quran and reason, and must never be used to cause harm to other humans or animals.

The beautiful benefit of hadith in Islam cannot be denied but perhaps hadith are best used with a disclaimer.

And Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ knows best.